Return to pace

Carl Hooper acknowledged yesterday that the West Indies played straight into their hands by using two spinners in last week's first Test against Sri Lanka and signalled a return to what we know best for the remaining two.

But the addition of a third fast bowler, instead of left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell, did not involve Reon King who, after confusion not out of place in the chaotic world of Caribbean politics, was finally ruled out of contention by what the captain called a slight hernia problem.

There's some swelling there and we were not sure Reon would be able to complete the Test, Hooper explained.

We saw in the first Test the amount of work the fast bowlers were asked to do and to play Reon would be a big risk, he added. We're behind and, if we're to beat Sri Lanka, we need all three quicks operating.

Merv Dillon and Colin Stuart, the only fast bowlers used in the first Test defeat by ten wickets, sent down 88.4 between them in sweltering heat as Sri Lanka's batsmen amassed 590 for nine declared on Galle's slow, lifeless pitch.

At least they claimed two wickets each. McGarrell had none and Pedro Collins gained his place over Marlon Black as much for the variety of his left-handedness as much as anything else.

As was the case when Collins played his last Test, in Zimbabwe in July, he comes in without a first-class match on tour behind him.

The fast bowlers were all more encouraged to find a pitch with an altogether grassier, livelier look to it than Galle's and temperatures, if not humidity, a few degrees cooler in the lush green, hillside town of Kandy.

Had he been fit or the selectors trusted the local doctor's opinion more, the third spot would probably have gone to King.

The medical opinion here when he was examined last weekend was that the hernia was in its early stages and would not have prevented him playing.

He bowled freely in the nets on Monday but, according to Skerritt, reported yesterday that he did not feel comfortable and did not participate in the final net session.

Yet it is batsmen, not bowlers, who lose matches and it was the batting that led to the defeat in Galle with its collapses after lunch on the second day and an hour-and-aquarter into the last.

Taken cumulatively, 15 wickets fell in those two periods for 99, nine of them to Muttiah Muralitheran.

The crafty little off-spinner has been the key to most Sri Lankan victories of late and if the West Indies batsmen not Brian Lara alone fail to get the measure of him again, the outcome will be no different.

Muralitheran's support will be boosted by the return of the 6-foot-6 inch Numan Zoysa who returns to the team after injury to partner Chaminda Vaas in an all left-handed new ball attack.

Zoysa has 28 wickets in 17 previous Tests and replaces Buddika Fernando, who went without a wicket in his debut in Galle.

Sri Lanka's recent record is poor on the picturesque ground, owned by adjoining Trinity College, set adjacent to a hillside and expanded for international cricket in the past five years to accommodate 10 000 with a main stand and a media centre.

The home team has lost its last three Tests here, to South Africa, England and India, each time after winning the first in Galle. It has created a superstition among the fans and even a few of the players have referred to it.

The West Indies need whatever help they can get, from any source, to square the series. But Dav Whatmore, the Sri Lankan coach, has rightly put the issue into its proper perspective.

We have to acknowledge our record in Kandy hasn't been good but a cricket match isn't won by any hoodoo, voodoo or horoscopes, he said. It is won or lost by what you do out in the middle.

West Indies: Carl Hooper (captain), Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Marlon Samuels, Ridley Jacobs, Merv Dillon, Dinanath Ramnarine, Pedro Collins and Colin Stuart.

Sri Lanka (probable): Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillakaratne, Thilan Samaraweera, Chaminda Vaas, Niroshan Bandaratillake, Muttiah Muralithathan and Numan Zoysa.

Umpires: John Hampshire (England), E.A.R deSilva (Sri Lanka).

Match referee: Raman Subba Row (England).