Lankans face delicate dilemma

CASTRIES: The condition of the pitch at the Beausejour Stadium will sway Sri Lanka’s cricket team management on a delicate decision to play a seventh batsman or a third fast bowler in the first Cable and Wireless Test match against the West Indies this weekend. Team coach Duleep Mendis said the Sri Lankans would keep their options open but added that the cue from the West Indies selectors —- naming four pacers —- suggests a fast bowler’s pitch. “We have to decide between playing an additional batsman or a fast bowler. Looking at the team that West Indies have picked for the First Test, we’ll probably get a wicket which will seam about a bit,” Mendis told reporters. Speaking after Sri Lanka’s drawn three-day warm up match against a West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI in St Vincent, Mendis said the tour match did not create for them a clear picture for their bowling preference. Sri Lanka used the practice match to assess their bowling options, resting Chaminda Vaas and Prabath Nissanka, who will share the new ball, and Muttiah Muralitharan, who will lead the spin attack.

Dharshana Gamage, Thilan Thushara and Dinusha Fernando — all young uncapped fast bowlers — are competing for the third fast bowler’s slot. Thushara, a left-armer, is the frontrunner with his extra pace, but Dinusha Fernando’s ability to swing the ball means that he too is a serious contender. But Mendis was not overly impressed by their performance since the President’s XI, replying to 299, scored 296. “I expected us to get them out for a much smaller score,” he said. “At one stage we were doing okay but they got too close to our total. I am not satisfied because they shouldn’t have got anything more than 250,” Mendis said. Should Sri Lanka decide against playing a third fast bowler, they would then have the chance to bolster their batting.