Dav Whatmore wants players to focus on performance not history

Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore has warned his players not to take their recent Test record in Galle for granted as they prepare to take on West Indies in the first ever three-Test series against the two sides on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka have won four of the six Tests to be played in the coastal city of Galle. Three of those were won by an innings and the last game against India earlier this year was won by ten wickets.

"We have got a good record, but that is no guarantee for this game," said Whatmore. "We have to be very careful about any kind of reasoning that suggests we will do well because we have done so historically."

"Our record in Galle has been as good for us, as our record in Kandy has been bad. We are confident we can reverse that trend there so, by the some token, the opposition has a chance of being successful here."

"Remember, we saw Pakistan come here last year with a side packed full of fast bowlers and they steamrolled us. You win matches because you play well, so that is what we are focusing on."

The curator, Jayanda Warnaweera, a former left-arm spinner, takes great pride in his pitches, which tend to suit the spinners, and also his predictions, which invariably point to an early finish. This time he believes his dry, brown wicket will produce a finish early on day five.

The surface, which seems sure to crumble after the first 2-3 days, recommends a spin-based attack. Whatmore is reluctant to confirm the Sri Lankan line-up, saying: "We have been developing our fast bowlers and it's not a foregone conclusion that that we will go with just two fast bowlers."

He admits, though, that: "Throughout Sri Lankan cricket history we have done well at home because we have been able to keep the pressure on with our spinners."

"In this match we have potentially three frontline spinners, plus a couple of spinning all-rounders. We have a good mix and choice from which to pick the final side."

In fact, in recent times, Sri Lanka's record at home has been poor. Their win against India was the first time in 23 months that they had won a Test series in Sri Lanka.

"Certainly, at home, there is the expectation that the team will do well and that in itself can create pressure on the players," he reasoned.

Sri Lanka and West Indies have only played three-Tests against each other. The last game was way back in 1997, when Sri Lanka lost 1-0 in the Caribbean.

"It's been a long time since we played," he said. "We are expecting a tough fight, as the West Indies have been showing signs that they are coming out of a bit of a slump. They have match winners and we will to be on guard right from day one.

"However, the last four to six months have been pretty good: we have won a Test series against India, a triangular series in Colombo and I thought that the team functioned well in Sharjah."

Sri Lanka are going straight into the series after a one-day tournament with no first class cricket under their belts since the Bangladesh Test in September.

"It would have been nice to get the batsmen a chance to bat in the longer game, but in these times you cannot expect the perfect preparation all the time," said Whatmore. "The players are accustomed to this fact with the current international cricket schedule. You have to put up with this. It's not the best, but neither is it for other countries."