West Indies weakened further still
The departure of eight West Indies A players reduces the third game to a damp squib
Sa'adi Thawfeeq
06-Jul-2005
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The three-match unofficial series was nicely poised at one-all, with everything to play for in the third and final match at the Saravanamuttu Stadium. But the match loses much of its edge and competitiveness with both teams having made dramatic changes. Sri Lanka A have strengthened their side by including two Test players, in Tillakaratne Dilshan and Farveez Maharoof, whereas West Indies A have called upon replacements who are inexperienced and will struggle to compete at this level.
Ranaga Herath, the left-arm spinner, has been forced to withdraw due to a strained leg and has been replaced by the offspinner Suraj Mohamed. From the 14 named for the Test, batsmen Michael Vandort, Malintha Gajanayake and Gayan Wijekoon, the allrounder, will be the ones most likely to miss out, making way for Dilshan, Maharoof and Mohamed.
Ian Daniel, the opening batsman, and fast bowler Dilhara Lokuhettige will get their first game of the series. Mohamed will play the support role to Sajeewa Weerakoon, the left-arm spinner who, with eighteen wickets in the first two A games, has been Sri Lanka's outstanding bowler so far.
Russel Arnold, the Sri Lankan captain - who has won a recall to the senior squad against West Indies - said that his team would play their normal game and not start thinking about the opposition. "It is not our problem what team they put out for the match. We will play to our potential and try to win."
He said that apart from a few players whom Maharoof had some knowledge of, he was in the dark about the rest of the newcomers. "Not knowing their capabilities makes it more difficult for the opposition to size up the opponents," he said.
The sides face each other again in five one-day matches, the first of which starts on July 13.