***Official*** West Indies in Sri Lanka

[JASON]

Well, in all fairness, 11 of the 14 squad members have played international cricket.

Fair enough !!

 

[Prince EWS]

Agreed.

Marshall, Dw Smith, Chanderpaul, Morton, Deonarine, Joseph, +Ramdin, Powell, Banks, Best, Lawson would be a first XI...I'd think they would beat Bangladesh four times out of ten...

Dwayne Smith opening!! I think not!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Dwayne Smith opening!! I think not!

Sylvester Joseph will more likely open. Dwayne Smith will get eaten alive in Sri Lanka.

My XI:

R Ramdass
SC Joseph
S Chanderpaul (C)
R Morton
NO Deonarine
OAC Banks - a risk at 6, but he's more capable of dealing with the spot than Smith IMO.
D Ramdin (wk)
DC Butler
DB Powell
TL Best
JJC Lawson

The other option is to have Dwayne Smith in there for Powell, as Deonarine and Banks combine for a decent bowling combo. I fear for Marshall...

 

[JASON]

SL A win by an Innings and 16 runs-

http://nz.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005/WI-A_IN_SL/SCORECARDS/WI-A_SL-A_29JUN-02JUL2005.html


Arnold 159 and spinner Weerakoon with 6/56 in the second innings and 3/78 in first innings - were the main architects of the SL A win. Morton scored 115 in the first innings for Windies A team.

On another note Grenada PM has criticised the Windies board saying " it was intent on taking West Indian Cricket on a destructive path "
http://content.cricinfo.com/slvwi/content/story/212439.html

And Darren Ganga claims A team players were forced in to signing contracts !!

http://content.cricinfo.com/slvwi/content/story/212395.html

Does anyone else think Windies cricket is messed up or not ?

 

[Arrow]

Christ not AGAIN!!!

West indies cricket is a ****ing joke. They deserve their thrashings.

 

[dinu23]

It's messed up alright! messed up big time!

 

[roseboy64]

And the tour started on such a bright note.

 

[roseboy64]

That is with the West Indies A winning.

 

[Don]

they couldve gone with ganga in the squad to if ur playing an under strength squad include ganga

 

[superkingdave]

can't believe they've left Dave out of the main squad, did he refuse to sign the contract or was he not asked?

 

[roseboy64]

Ganga didn't want to sign the contract. I believe Mohammed did that too. As well as Baugh and the other A Team guys not in the "senior" squad.

 

[JASON]

Atapattu Regrets the absence of Lara http://content.cricinfo.com/slvwi/content/story/212723.html

As does Murali
http://content.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/212673.html

First Test will be Sri Lanka's 150th Test and Murali returns after a gap of 11 months.

What a lame Test though, without the leading West Indian players in the Team.

Are the Windies board and players still negotiating or not ?

If the current named Team plays the 2 Tests, anything short of 2 innings defeats would be considered poor performance by SL, IMO.

And SL will move up the Test rankings on the basis of beating such crappy opposition !!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

The T&T Ministry of Education is trying to force the inclusion of Lara and Caricom has met and will continue to meet on the issue, as they consider taking it out of the control of the WICB, or at least that's what the media speculates.

 

[marc71178]

Just remember what happened last time the WI side was weakened like this...

 

[Dasa]

Just remember what happened last time the WI side was weakened like this...

Yeah, but that was a flat pitch at home, without someone like Murali to contend with.

 

[roseboy64]

And they had players who were of more reasonable standard such as W Hinds and Devon Smith. The bowling also looked better on paper and otherwise than that lineup. The wicketkeeping has been improved though.

 

[chipmonk]

I wonder if this is a development squad, then would SL cricket be reprimanded if they put up a development squad as well and played a Test - and gave it Test status ?

Please don't take offence Liam !!

I mean would that be any different from Bangladesh playing the current Zimbo and calling it a Test ?

Could'nt agree more !

 

[JASON]

Russell Arnold as expected has been recalled again after getting a Century against the Windies A Team !
Until his next failures in Tests - likely to get a few more cheap Test caps under his name !! (more so because he will get a few more cheap runs against this lack lustre Windies B team in the current match as well !! )

Likely First Test Team for SL -

Atapattu
Jayasuriya
Sangakkara
Arnold
Mahela Jayawardene
Samaraweera
Dilshan ( or ? Chandana)
Vaas
Zoysa/Malinga
Murali
Herath

My preference will be to play Dilshan over Chandana and Malinga over Zoysa.

 

[dinu23]

I think both chandana and dilshan will play in the first test. Arnold will miss out.

 

[dinu23]

good knocks from Kalavitigoda and Dilshan. 114 run partnership between them.