TILLAKARATNE DILSHAN
Tillakaratne Dilshan may not be a batting superstar in Sri Lanka's team like Sanath Jayasuriya or Kumar Sangakkara, but is one of most valuable players in all forms of the game.
Sri Lanka's search for an explosive opening partner for Jayasuriya ended with the successful run of Dilshan, a middle-order batsman performing the new role remarkably well in Test, one-day and Twenty20 cricket this year.
Dilshan will be the man to watch out for in the Champions Trophy in South Africa next week as he is familiar with the conditions after excelling as an opener in the Indian Premier League just a few months ago.
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The Sri Lankan is a free-stroking batsman who has been credited with perfecting a rare shot which goes over the wicket-keeper's head and makes field-setting a difficult proposition.
Dilshan carried his IPL form into the Twenty20 World Cup in England this year, playing a vital role in his team's run to the final.
Doubts that he may not be as successful with his attacking flair in Tests were buried as Dilshan gave a good account of himself at home against New Zealand, scoring 92 and 123 in the opening Test at Galle.
He has been nominated for the International Cricket Council award for the Twenty20 International Performance of the Year.
Dilshan will vie for attention with other exciting stroke-makers, Graeme Smith of South Africa, India's Yuvraj Singh, Australian Michael Clarke and Pakistan's Shahid Afridi.
GRAEME SMITH
Smith is one of most respected and feared openers in contemporary cricket, having the skill to adapt to all conditions and the shots to tame any attack with his attractive stroke-making.
The left-hander's form will be crucial as South Africa have talented middle-order batsmen in Jacques Kallis, Jean-Paul Duminy, AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher to capitalise on a solid start.
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