SYDNEY, Jan 21: Sri Lanka are unfazed by the latest efforts of pace bowling sensation Brett Lee and will face Australia in Sunday’s one-day triangular series match boosted by the return of opener Sanath Jayasuriya, coach Tom Moody said.

“Our guys have faced quick bowling before with (Pakistan’s) Shoaib Akhtar and (New Zealand’s) Shane Bond recently,” Moody said Saturday.

“Obviously he (Lee) bowled well last night but our guys played him reasonably well the other night.”

Lee claimed 5-22 during Australia’s 59-run win over South Africa in Melbourne on Friday which put them at the top of the tri-series table with 10 points from three matches.

Sri Lanka are second with five points from two matches while South Africa are third with four points from three matches.

The Sri Lankans lost their opening match to Australia by an embarrassing 116 runs with Lee taking 2-29 before recovering to beat South Africa by 94 runs in Brisbane last Tuesday.

“Brett is in a bit of a purple patch at the moment. We’ve just got to deal with it - simple as that,” Moody said.

“He’s a bowler at the top of his game.”

Moody, a former Australian Test and one-day international, said the return of Jayasuriya from a shoulder injury would boost Sri Lanka’s batting while his left-arm spinners would also be useful.

Jayasuriya, 36, was sent home after Sri Lanka’s second match in New Zealand after aggravating the injury when he slipped in the showers.

He is only the fourth batsman to make 10,000 one-day runs, joining Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Inzamam-ul-Haq.

“Regardless of thinking he (Jayasuriya) is going to be the answer to Brett Lee or not, I think just having him in the side ... he’s scored over 10,000 one-day runs, he’s got a lot of experience,” Moody said.

“He’s an asset in all departments.”

Moody said he hoped Sri Lanka would not have to chase a big total in Sunday’s match in Sydney after being set 319 to win in the opening contest against Australia in Melbourne.

“Hopefully that is not going to be the case here in Sydney,” he said.

The coach also dismissed reports that brilliant off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was planning to rush home to be with his heavily pregnant wife.

Muralitharan took 2-34 during Sri Lanka’s win over South Africa and is likely to enjoy the spin-friendly wicket at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Teams: Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (c), Phil Jaques, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, James Hopes, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath, Brad Hogg.

Sri Lanka (from): Marvan Atapattu (c), Sanath Jayasuria, Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Michael Vandort, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Ruchira Perera, Muttiah Muralitharan.—AFP