BRISBANE, Nov 7: Australian cricket will experience the start of a new era here on Thursday in the first Test against Sri Lanka who will try their best to exploit the exit of some of the world-beating Aussie cricketers.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is determined not to break the progress even though he has lost four Test match sensations in the past year, but the major changes have allowed the tourists to think of overcoming Australia at their venues for the first time.

The experienced nucleus comprising Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas are set to back their leader Mahela Jayawardene and give Sri Lanka probably their best opportunity of beating a team that has consistently ruled the world.

However, there is a major drawback for Sri Lanka with the absence of match-winning Kumar Sangakkara. His hamstring in the Adelaide tour game could be the moment an even competition turned mismatched.

Ponting believes his opponents carry the similar worry that forced them to rest key players when they faced Australia in the Super Eights at the World Cup earlier this year.

“It’s the same group and we’ve got a very good record against them,” Ponting said. “We had a great Test series against them in my first series as captain (in 2004). All those fears are definitely still there. We want to start this series well and reinvigorate some of those fears that are still in them.”

On the other hand, Sri Lanka remain positive despite poor batting in the warm-up against Queensland and an interrupted preparation because of the persistent wet weather.

“We don’t fear Australia,” Jayawardene said. “We’ve improved as a group over the past two years, especially away from home.”

Series in England, New Zealand and Pakistan have been squared since 2004, when they lost to Australia. Sri Lanka have won only one Test against Australia, at Kandy in 1999, and Jayawardene will need his seniors to be in the finest touch if they are to win a second.

“We’ve got a group of guys who are in the latter stages of their careers and to face Australia right now, with the players we’ve got, we’ve got the right blend,” he stated.

The tourists clipped the squad to 12 on Wednesday but will wait until the match day before deciding whether to use four pacemen with Muttiah Muralitharan or pick three and have the additional security of wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene at No 7.

Whereas a fairly relaxed Ponting confirmed Mitchell Johnson would finally earn a Test cap after a series of 12th man jobs during the last Ashes series.

“I’ve been really excited about Mitchell over the last couple of years,” Ponting said.

Johnson forms part of Australia’s fresh side, also including Phil Jaques and Stuart MacGill, who is back after an 18-month break.

Despite the change in the line-up, Ponting rejected any thought that Australia would not be able to sustain the winning tradition following the retirements of experienced pros — Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn.

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