A compact fast-bowling machine capable of taking apart the opposition batting is the hallmark of a top team.
On Wednesday, Sri Lanka's pace bowling coach Chaminda Vaas laid out a list of instructions for Thisara Perera, Dhamika Prasad and Suranga Lakmal at the team's practice while death-over specialist Lasith Malinga fired in yorkers at one of the nets.
Sri Lanka have stormed into the Asia Cup final but the bowlers are all ears. For Vaas, with 761 international wickets, has a fair idea about the art of pace bowling.
World Champions India are out of the event, largely because of their inability to defend. Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the rarely tried Varun Aaron have floundered.
Vaas just smiles when asked about the constant stumbling of the Indian attack. "Death bowling is very difficult, but not impossible. Only when there's dew and the ball is hard to grip that it slips," he tells HT. "You have to practice with a wet ball and also practice yorkers. If you do not, you will end up bowling full tosses."
The former left-arm pacer repeats the importance of practice.