PROVIDENCE, Guyana (AFP) — Sri Lanka open their tour of the Caribbean on Monday against an inexperienced West Indies Select XI at the Guyana National Stadium.
The three-day tour match will be the visitors' only chance for match practice ahead of the first Test of two against West Indies, starting next Saturday at the same venue.
"It's going to be an exciting tour, and I'm looking forward to it," said Mahela Jayawardene on arrival in Guyana.
"We've got some youngsters coming through the set-up now so it's going to be a very good experience for those guys and West Indies is a very good side so we're definitely looking forward to the challenge."
Jayawardene indicated that the key objective for his side is to win their first Test series in the Caribbean.
"We're very good at home," he said. "In our conditions, we dominate, but away from home we've been winning a lot (recently).
"We beat England in England, New Zealand and we came close in Australia, so we're headed in the right direction, if we can keep competing away from home, challenging ourselves to be better cricketers every day that's the way forward.
"It's going to be a great challenge and hopefully we can win the first (Test( series in the West Indies."
Bearing in mind that the sixth round of the West Indies first-class championship will come to a close on Monday, the home team selectors have picked a young, inexperienced side to face the Sri Lankans.
Wicketkeeper/batsman Patrick Browne, who played three One-day International for West Indies during their recent One-day International series in South Africa, will captain the Select XI.
Four members of the Young West Indies side that won the Plate Championship at the ICC Youth World Cup in Malaysia are also in the squad.
They are Young West Indies captain Shamarh Brooks, his deputy Steven Jacobs, opener Kieran Powell, and fast bowler Jason Dawes.
Brooks and Jacobs have already played at the first-class level for their native Barbados and Guyana respectively.
Former West Indies fast bowler Reon King, who was recently appointed Guyana's assistant coach for the team's home matches in the West Indies first-class championship, has been appointed coach of the team.
The match had been scheduled for Bourda Oval in the Guyana capital of Georgetown, but heavy rain left the ground waterlogged, forcing the Guyana Cricket Board to shift the game to the National Stadium, which will become the 10th Test venue in the Caribbean.
The second Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka will be from April 3 to 7 at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad.
The first two of three ODIs will be on April 10 and 12 at Queen's Park Oval; and the third ODI will be a day/night affair at the Beausejour Stadium in St. Lucia on April 15.
West Indies Select XI (from): Patrick Browne (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Shemroy Barrington, Davendra Bishoo, Shamarh Brooks, Rajendra Chandrika, Jason Dawes, Krishna Deosarran, Jason Haynes, Steven Jacobs, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach.
Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardane (captain), Ishara Amarashinghe, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Rangan Herath, Prasanna Jayawardane, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Samaraweera, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Thilan Thushara, Chaminda Vaas, Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Chanaka Welegadara.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
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2 Comments:
Just a thought on the Selection of SL team - There is always much controversy whenever Jayasuriya is not included in a squad... it inevitably end up with the minister of sports (most of the time someone who knows the least about sports) intervening and reinstating Jayasuriya. But that should be the case. Jayasuriya is one of the best cricketers we have.. and he is very much up there with the likes of Aravinda and Sanga. But let's face it, he is old! And he ain't getting any younger (have you seen him chasing a ball lately?). We need to introduce young blood and learn from these experienced veterans now before it is too late. So I applaud the selectors for leaving Jayasuriya out in this instance.
Well said Bimal. Hopefully we have GOOD KNOWLEDGABLE SCOUTS looking for talent around the country. & our coach needs to concentrate on our Fielding & fitness too, as it seems to be below par.
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