February 17, 1982. The sun was bright and cheerful as Bob Willis ran in.

The shock of thick hair bounced on his head, the right hand bearing the ball was twisted in the characteristic odd angle — now concealed behind the advancing torso, now visible for a fraction of a second. In front of him stood Bandula Warnapura, captain of Sri Lanka, taking first strike for the beautiful island nation in the highest form of the game.

The hour of reckoning had arrived. At the P Sara Stadium, Sri Lanka’s first ever Test match had started.

For three days the fledgling cricketing nation gave a splendid account of themselves. They ran Keith Fletcher's England neck and neck, only five runs separating the two teams in the first innings. The hosts were well placed at 152 for 3 at the end of the third day.

And then on the fourth morning, they ran out of steam. John Emburey produced a 10-over spell capturing 5 for 10. The newcomers to the Test scene capitulated and lost to a professional England side by 7 wickets.

They were defeated but not disgraced by any stretch of imagination.

It did not take them long to become a real force to reckon with.