Sri Lankan camp hit by illness

With just 36 hours to go until the second Test against West Indies, several of Sri Lanka's cricketers are battling a flu virus that is hampering preparations. Four players - Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera - missed afternoon training because of the flu and Sanath Jayasuriya, a serial tonsillitis sufferer, is once again struggling with sore tonsils.

Sri Lanka remain hopeful that all the affected players will have recovered sufficiently to play in the second Test in Kandy, the hill-country capital, but the coughing and sniffling condition of key players is a concern. "We don't think it is too serious but many of us have been struggling with this flu and Muralitharan has been the latest victim," Atapattu told Reuters. "But we are not too worried and tomorrow we want to have more of a serious training session."

Preparations have also been hampered by unsettled weather. No net sessions were possible in the afternoon because of occasional showers and the healthy players spent two hours fielding and knocking throw-downs against the advertising hoardings at Asgiriya International Stadium. The players then warmed down with a 45-minute walk back to the team hotel.