Flashback: Stars of yesteryear pave the way for Sri Lanka's new generation
While 1992 was a memorable year for 50-over cricket – Pakistan won their first World Cup title at the MCG in March – it was seemingly a transitional year for both Sri Lanka and Australia as both teams missed out on qualifying for the knockout stages of that tournament.
Some five months later they would meet again in Sri Lanka and the hosts showed their class by defeating an Australian side that was down on confidence following a disappointing showing at home during the World Cup.
It was the home side that capitalised during the three-match series with Sri Lanka legend Aravinda de Silva the leading run scorer with 207 runs, while fellow greats Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Asanka Gurusinha and Roshan Mahanama also featured.
Australia also had plenty of stars in their squad, with veteran skipper Allan Border leading a side that included Mark Taylor, Dean Jones, David Boon, Mark Waugh and Craig McDermott.
Here's how the series panned out:
First ODI in Colombo - Sri Lanka 251/6 (Aravinda de Silva 105, Asanka Gurusinha 53, Mike Whitney 2/33) defeated Australia 247/5 (Mark Taylor 94, Tom Moody 54, Ruwan Kalpage 2/52) by four wickets
Aravinda de Silva was the hero as he stroked a stylish century to guide the hosts to victory in a final over thriller.
Half centuries to Mark Taylor and Tom Moody had helped Australia post a decent total and, with de Silva in a destructive mood, it looked like Sri Lanka were going to cruise to victory.
But the Sri Lanka right-hander was run out not long after reaching triple figures and Marvan Atapattu and Romesh Kaluwitharana followed shortly after to leave the home side six down and with plenty of work to do.
It was left to wily left-hander Arjuna Ranatunga (45*) and young all-rounder Ruwan Kalpage (11*) to guide the hosts home, with lion-hearted quick Craig McDermott unable to pull off any heroics in the final over for the Aussies.
Second ODI in Colombo - Sri Lanka 194/5 (Aravinda de Silva 63, Chandika Hathurusingha 52*, Greg Matthews 2/34) defeated Australia 216/7 (Dean Jones 59*, David Boon 35, Champaka Ramanayake 2/43)) by five wickets (revised target)
The two teams were quite familiar with each other by now, with the second ODI taking place after the two-Test series had been completed at the same ground some two days earlier.
Yet the pitch for this match had to be hastily prepared, after it was originally planned to use the same deck that had hosted the drawn Test match.
It was no surprise that Ranatunga then sent the Aussies into bat after he won the toss, with Dean Jones' half-century helping the tourists post yet another competitive score on a pitch that was difficult to score on.
But de Silva matched Jones' nous with an equally smart knock to ensure the hosts registered a second consecutive win and clinched the series despite the late invention of rain.
Chandika Hathurusingha was named Player of the Match for his brave half-century after battling cramps in the difficult Colombo conditions.
Third ODI in Colombo - Sri Lanka 207/6 (Asanka Gurusinha 49, Chandika Hathurusingha 46, Greg Matthews 2/33) defeated by Australia 208/5 (David Boon 69*, Mark Waugh 52, Champaka Ramanayake 2/34) by five wickets
Allan Border won the toss for the first time in the series and decided to send the hosts into bat for the day-night contest.
The move paid immediate dividends with Craig McDermott removing the dangerous Roshan Mahanama with the first delivery of the match, but Sri Lanka steadied through the experienced combination of Chandika Hathurusingha and Asanka Gurusinha.
Sri Lanka failed to gain much momentum at the backend of their innings, with left-armer Mike Whitney and off-spinner Greg Matthews picking up two wickets apiece to ensure the hosts were kept to a gettable total.
And Australia salvaged something from a disappointing ODI series, with duo David Boon and Mark Waugh each scoring a half-century to ensure Australia picked up the win with more than two overs remaining.
