Lankans in the Caribbean looking for that elusive win

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE from the West Indies

The Sri Lankan cricketers led by Mahela Jayawardena flew into Guyana jet lagged, but yet looking cheerful in their endeavour to win a Test match for the first time on Caribbean soil.

The Lankans have never won a Test match here and the cricketers are hoping that they could achieve that milestone on this Two Test tour with the First Test beginning at the National Stadium on March 22.

After this Test the Lankans fly out to Trinidad where they will play the Second Test at the Queens Park Oval from April 3 to 6.

After the two Test will follow three One Day Internationals with the first and second at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad on April 10 and 12 and the final game in St. Lucia on April 15.

In between the Lankans will play two three day practice games.

The Lankans will be sans two of their best players in Farveez Maharoof and Lasith Malinga who have been forced to miss this tour owing to injury.

Skipper Jayawardena would certainly miss the presence of these two players who had been there would have contributed in Lanka’s push for a first time victory in the Caribbean.

Incidentally the Guyana Stadium where the First Test is being played was the hunting ground of Malinga who captured four wickets in four balls in a World Cup game and stunned the South Africans and nearly brought Sri Lanka an epic victory.

In batting the Lankans would be looking to their seasoned campaigners Michael Van Dort, Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardena to put the runs on the board, while for wickets they will once again turn to Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan who have always performed when given the ball.

If the Lankans hope to restrict the West Indians to low scores, then the bowlers must be ably supported by the fielders.

Dropped catches whether they be half chances or regulation ones would not be tolerated.

As for the West Indians, on paper they have nominated a well balanced squad. Over the years they have relied on pace to out do their opponents. But this time round, it is surprising to note that they have slotted in two promising spinners in Amit Jaggernauth and Sulieman Benn.

Jaggernauth is an off spinner while Benn is a left arm spinner.

Both are new to Test cricket and their selections will depend after they have a look at the wicket.

The homesters have also included a battery of fast bowlers in Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor, Darren Powell and Pedro Collins.

The batting will be led by the belligerent Chrys Gayle who is the captain with Shiv Chandrapaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwanne Bravo, Ryan Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith and Denesh Ramdin.

In their own backyard the Windies would not be easy meat.

They will have pride to protect and prove to their supporters that they a fast improving side.

The Lankans would be looking to disprove this and show that they too are on a team building process and would be eagerly looking forward to stall the Windies.