WI aim for victory over Sri Lanka

CASTRIES: West Indies captain Brian Lara said it was time for his maturing team to show how much it had progressed by winning the first Test against Sri Lanka starting today. “Everybody gained a lot over the last two months, and they want to end on a high,” Lara said yesterday. “We are still looking for our first successful series ... everyone is looking forward to it.” The West Indies lost a four-Test series 3-1 to Australia, and successive one-day international series’ 4-3 to Australia and 2-1 to Sri Lanka. Each time, the West Indies won only after the series was decided. “We have to be really hungry over the next 10 days to ensure that we get some victories,” Lara said. But Sri Lanka skipper Hashan Tillakaratne said his team was equally motivated by the prospect of winning a Test series in the Caribbean for the first time. “We haven’t won a Test match in the Caribbean, and we are looking forward to doing that here,” Tillakaratne said. Sri Lanka lost its only previous series in the West Indies, 1-0 in a two-Test schedule in 1997. “We won 2-1 in the one-dayers and our morale is high,” added Tillakaratne, who was not part of the one-day squad. “It’s a different ball game altogether, but everyone is confident.” As usual, Tillakaratne will rely heavily on his country’s two most successful bowlers of all time - off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and left-arm pacer Chaminda Vaas. Lara dominated the pair in scoring 688 runs in three Tests   in Sri Lanka in 2001, but his side was still swept 3-0. “These two individuals have posed a threat for many batsmen around the world, so we just have to take it in stride,” Lara said. Sri Lanka’s backup bowlers include two rookies who have played just two Tests each. Vaas’ new ball mate is Prabath Nissanka, while Muralitharan’s main support will likely come from leg-spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi.

Thilan Samaraweera returns from a hand injury to fill the No. 6 slot. His off-spin will be an asset, as will his bat, which has earned him an average of 83 from 10 Tests. “Thilan coming in will definitely add a little more strength to our batting,” Tillakaratne said. The West Indies will employ most of the squad which was outshone by Australia. The only new addition is Jamaican fast bowler Jerome Taylor, who will turn 19 on Sunday and made an impressive international debut eight days ago in the final one-dayer against Sri Lanka, when he took two for 39. If Taylor is selected to play he will be only the 10th teenager to play Test cricket for the West Indies, and would be the youngest since 18-year-old batsman Alfie Roberts played against New Zealand in 1956 in Auckland. “He is very special,” Lara said. “His quick understanding of what’s going on in the middle is great to see.”  Taylor’s presence could help make up for the loss of Jermaine Lawson, whose back injury forced him out of the Australian series.

The squads: WEST INDIES: Brian Lara (capt), Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels, Ridley Jacobs, Omari Banks, Vasbert Drakes, Mervyn Dillon, Jerome Taylor, Corey Collymore, Devon Smith, Carlton Baugh.
SRI LANKA: Hashan Tillakaratne (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Prabath Nissanka, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Thushara, Dharshana Gamage, Dinusha Fernando, Kumar Dharmasena.
Umpires: Billy Bowden (New Zealand), Daryl Harper (Australia).
Match referee: Wasim Raja (Pakistan).