Test Series begins
Windies to consider spin options
CMC
Saturday, March 22, 2008



PROVIDENCE, Guyana (CMC) - West Indies are mulling over the choice of a spin bowler in their line-up, when they face Sri Lanka in the opening Test of their two which starts today at the Guyana National Stadium.

A few factors have colluded to make the selection of either off-spin bowler Amit Jaggernauth or beanpole left-arm spin bowler Sulieman Benn a serious consideration for the home team.


Barbara Scott's daughter, Salina Jones Yildiz, and ex-husband Charlie Jones, look on while police and firefighters try to remove her body from a sewerage pit at her Jamaican home in Somerton, St James yesterday.

The mere presence of Jaggernauth, one of the most successful slow bowlers in regional cricket over the last five years, and Benn, one of this season's leading bowlers, in the squad selected means that they must be given careful consideration.

This is also the first Test to be played on the National Stadium pitch, and there is no real track record on which West Indies can make a decision, so they will have to be prepared for all conditions.

The ban imposed on Marlon Samuels by the International Cricket Council (ICC), cricket's World governing body, which prevents him from bowling because of a suspect action could also impact on a decision for a frontline slow bowler.

"This is something we have been studying, but we will have a look, and see what the turf is like before we make a final decision about our line-up," said West Indies captain Chris Gayle at a news conference on Thursday.

"This could be an opportunity for them, but we will look closely at the situation, and come up with the best c****ination that would allow us to win the Test match."

West Indies may however, make the safe choice and include left-hander Ryan Hinds, an accomplished batsman, whose left-arm spin bowling is more than useful, since he fits right into the mould which Gayle believes is just right for his side.

"I agree that spin bowlers have not gotten an opportunity to get a run in West Indies cricket," he said.

"But if you look at the composition of the team, most of the time we have had all-rounders like Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith, and those guys make it difficult for spinners to get into the team.

"If the spinners can actually bat, this would be a better option for us, and they could play, then people like myself and Samuels - who used to bowl - can give them support with the ball."

Apart from the decision about the slow bowlers, West Indies face a few more decisions about their line-up.

Should Sewnarine Chattergoon be given the nod to open the batting alongside Gayle, or should Devon Smith get another chance to prove himself in Test cricket.

"If he plays, it would be an opportunity for Chattergoon to play in front of his home crowd, and it would be nice for him to get some runs, but we will have to wait and see," said Gayle.

The match also marks the return to the side of Ramnaresh Sarwan. He has finally gotten over his spate of injuries, and his presence fortifies the batting, but Gayle understands that West Indies have played shakily in recent matches at home, and Sri Lanka are hungry to break their maiden in the Caribbean.

"It's going to be tough against Sri Lanka, since they are a good all-round team and have started to play some good cricket on the road," he said.

"A lot of teams have come to the Caribbean and beaten us, including India two years ago, and there is a challenge there for us to put a stop to it.

"We have been playing competitively lately. We started well in South Africa, but the injuries prevailed in that series.
"Hopefully, we can get a good start in this Test, and we can capitalise on it, and go on to win the series."

Sri Lanka are hoping to follow in the footsteps of teams like England and India which have transformed weak records in the Caribbean.
On their two previous trips to the Caribbean, the Sri Lankans lost 0-1 on both occasions in series also of the two matches.

But this time they feel they have the firepower, experience, and talent to make this trip far more successful than the previous two.
"As a team, we have been playing some really good cricket and our Test record speaks for itself, and we have been competing away from home which has been an issue for us," said Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jaywardene.

"We are just going to do what we do best, and we are going to concentrate on what we have to do.

"We have been playing well, but there is still room for improvement, so there are a lot of challenges in front of us, and our goal is to challenge ourselves, improve ourselves, and keep moving forward."
Sri Lanka's attack has been weakened with the absence of Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, and Farveez Maharoof, but Jayawardene is not worried.

"We have been a successful team, and there are some younger players who would like an opportunity to show what they are capable of doing," he said.

"We have some really talented players coming through the set-up, and though we failed to win on our last two tours of the Caribbean, we are determined to win and show that this is not a lost opportunity, so we are looking to make this a successful series for us."

The weather could disrupt the match as usual, since forecasts predict a 40 per cent chance of rain and scattered thunderstorms throughout the next week.

But the ultra-modern drainage system installed at the National Stadium when it was constructed in time to host World Cup matches last year should allow far more play in such circumstances unlike the conditions which existed when Bourda Oval in the heart of the Guyana capital of Georgetown hosted Tests and it rained.

Squads: WEST INDIES (from): Chris Gayle (captain), Sulieman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Fidel Edwards, Ryan Hinds, Amit Jaggernauth, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.

SRI LANKA (from): Mahela Jaywardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara (vice captain), Ishara Amerasinghe, Tillakeratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Prasanna Jaywardene, Nuwan Kulasekera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Thilan Thushara, Chaminda Vaas, Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Chanaka Welegedera.

UMPIRES: Simon Taufel, Billy Bowden
TV Replays: Clive Duncan
Reserve: Goaland Greaves.
MATCH REFEREE: Chris Broad.