With the Series against Pakistan done and dusted, the West Indies coach rotation system was put into action, with Tarick Weber, the Dutch coach, moved into the background, after a draw in Tests and victory in the ODI series, against Pakistan and the young Englishman, Jamee Gray moving into the hot seat for the Test Series against India, and the IndianOil Cup against India and Sri Lanka.
The first task for Gray was to select the tour party, to be 18 strong, which was announced, as follows.
Brian Lara (c)
Chris Gayle
Devon Smith
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Ramnaresh Sarwan
Runarko Morton
Ridley Jacobs (wk)
Carlton Baugh (wk)
Ryan Hinds
Dwayne Bravo
Carl Hooper
Darren Sammy
Ryan Cunningham
Tino Best
Pedro Collins
Ian Bradshaw
Dave Mohammed
Jermaine Lawson
So, with the squad on the plane and Jamee joining them, he started looking at the pitch for the warmup match against Sinhalese, at Columbo. It turned out to be flat and so the 2 seamers and 3 spinners, one an all-rounder.
Lara won the toss, and as it was a 3 Day Friendly and it was a flat pitch, decided to bat first and let the batsmen fill their boots.
The West Indies made 312 in the first innings, with the 2 openers, Hinds and Smith putting on 103 for the first wicket, and in the end both going on to 60's and Chanderpaul and Hooper both making 39, but Hooper was struck on the finger by a short of a length ball, and has fractured his finger, more on that soon. Also promising was the 50 off 72 balls hit by Dwayne Bravo down the order.
In reply Sinhalese made 274 all out, with all 4 bowlers - Bravo, Best, Cunningham and Mohammed - all providing solid wicket hauls, with Bravo 3-63 and Cunningham 3-83 the stars. This has left the game very close, on the 3rd morning, so you may well see the batsman playing for time at the crease.
The friendly has been drawn, the West Indians declared on 193/3, after Gayle had got out on 98, Dwayne Smith made his second half-century of the match, 57 this time, and both openers look in good form.
After declaring, the West Indians had 27 overs at Sinhalese, and they made 60-2, with Mohammed and Best picking a wicket each.
Overall, it's been a worthwile game for the West Indies, both openers getting into form and all the bowlers looking good. Only down side is Carl Hooper's injury, which may well keep him out for 2-3 weeks.
More tommorow night kids, with the first test.