West Indies v Sri Lanka - Test Series

[couragous cloke]

one word - LARA! last tiem he played sri-lanka he scored 688 runs in 3 tests. windies are already 2 fa 160 odd and with lara in, will be looking to set a damanding total.

also Hinds is in Career best form and is in the 70's once more! still plenty of batting to come

and the great man murali has bowled 9 overs for 52. they know how to play spin dont worry about that

[Donny]

Rain stopped play with the Windies on 4/272. Hinds made 118. He put on 174 for the 3rd. wicket with Lara.

Lara (93 n.o.) is playing very carefully but this Test is looking like a draw or a Sri Lankan win. With the Windies still 82 runs behind, and three days gone, SL would need to crash through the rest of the Windies batting to get a result.

For the Windies to have a chance of winning, Lara needs to be bold. A declaration is called for. Either straight away, 82 behind, or after an hour with the scores level. Even then, they'd need to dismiss SL cheaply as they wouldn't want to be chasing too many on the last day.

[Lazza]

I cant see SL losing this one from here. A draw due to rain is the
most likely outcome. Murali going mad and running through the WI second
innings is the ONLY other possibility. WI cannot win this from here.

[Donny]

No play on a day of inspections
Wisden Cricinfo staff - June 23, 2003


Inspection followed inspection at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia on the scheduled fourth day of the first Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka. There was a lot of rain overnight, but after the weather relented it looked as if a start might be made after tea - but the ground was still wet in places, and as the clouds closed in again the umpires, Billy Bowden and Daryl Harper, finally admitted defeat and called play off for the day.

Play will start earlier than scheduled tomorrow, weather permitting, but with only one day's play left and West Indies' first innings not yet completed, it seems certain that St Lucia's inaugural Test - the first of this short two-match series - will end in a draw.

[Donny]

OK, Charlie, bite the bullet.

It's almost an impossibility to win this if you bat on but if you declare before start of play, there's an outside chance of a win.

Yes, you'd have to take 10 wickets in under 3 hours without a trump in your pack of bowlers but stranger things have happened.

If you did manage to skittle them, you'd be looking at about 200 to win in 45 overs. Your first innings run rate was nearly 5, early, so it's not out of the question. Ganga anchor the innings and Gayle, Hinds and Lara hit out.

Let's hope there's some play. C'mon, Charlie, give it a go. History will see your 93 n.o. in a far better light than a century in a boring last day draw.

[couragous cloke]

hmmmm, now that i think about it i hope they try your theory donny, its possible, and you'd think westindies would have a better chance of winning if they did it. How exciting could the game be if sri lanka get some wickets and windies need a few more runs. COM'N LARA GO FOR IT.

[Donny]

In an absolutely meaningless day of Test cricket, Lara decided to bat on, and on, and on. Very disappointing.

All that was achieved was a Lara double hundred (209), a Murali bag of wickets (5/138) and some batting practice for the SL openers.

The Windies crawled to 9 dec./477. They added 205 runs in 64 overs. What was the point ?

Jayasuriya (72 n.o.) and Atapattu (50 n.o.) just batted out the remaining overs. They were left with no choice.

Even if the Windies had gone out there and blazed for an hour, wiped off the deficit and declared, there would've been 5 hours left and still an outside chance of a win.

It was a day that did Test cricket, and Lara's reputation, no favours, at all.

[couragous cloke]

beautiful, i couldnt of asked for much more! LARA you are a champion!!!

cant wait for the decider in jamaca i think it is.

[Donny]

Pacy pitch likely for second Test
Sa'adi Thawfeeq - June 26, 2003

Following their rather ordinary performance in the rain-hit first Test against West Indies at St Lucia, Sri Lanka are all set to ring in the changes ahead of Friday's second Test at Sabina Park, Kingston.

Hashan Tillakaratne clearly expressed his disappointment over his team's performance in the drawn first Test, where poor fielding, the absence of another back-up bowler and the inability of the top-order batsmen to get runs once they had settled in, all contributed to West Indies gaining the upperhand.

Duleep Mendis, the interim coach, said that with the pitch here expected to assist fast bowlers, Sri Lanka would definitely opt for a third seamer at the expense of a batsman. Darshana Gamage is likely to win the third-seamer's spot ahead of the inexperienced left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara, while Thilan Samaraweera will probably be dropped. Samaraweera did not impress much in his 109 minutes at the wicket for 11 runs and Brian Lara took him to the cleaners in his eight overs of gentle offspin, which cost him 53 runs.

The other area of concern is the wicketkeeping of Romesh Kaluwitharana, who found out just how costly it could be to offer Lara a second chance. Kaluwitharana missed a stumping opportunity off Muttiah Muralitharan on the fifth morning when Lara was on 93. Lara ended up scoring his fifth double-century, and his fifth hundred in seven Tests against Sri Lanka. Kaluwitharana has been in reasonable form with the bat though – his failure in St Lucia was the result of a poor decision – and that might save him from getting the axe.

The West Indian batting revolves largely around Lara. Their total of 477 was largely made up of two partnerships totalling 310 runs which involved Lara. His mastery of Muralitharan is another cause for worry for Tillakaratne.

Lara has called for a result-oriented pitch and the inclusion of an additional pace bowler to the West Indies squad at the expense of a wicketkeeper-batsman clearly indicates that the pitch will assist the quick bowlers. If that is the case, Sri Lanka have a more penetrative attack to exploit the wicket. Vaas bowled superbly – but without much luck – on the placid pitch at St Lucia, while Prabath Nissanka is perhaps the quickest bowler Sri Lanka have had since Dilhara Fernando.

Merv Dillon, West Indies' spearhead, bowled poorly at St. Lucia, going wicketless in the Test. Corey Collymore made a fine comeback to Test cricket after four years with his first five-wicket haul, but he has only two Tests under his belt, while Jerome Taylor, the debutant, was listless as well. The inclusion of Fidel Edwards, the 21-year-old Barbadian fast bowler, was on the insistence of Lara, but it is unlikely that he will be included in the playing XI. Against such an inexperienced attack, Mendis has every right to expect his batsmen to score plenty of runs.

Lara has admitted that his team's bowling was a continuing worry. "We need to start getting 20 wickets in Test matches consistently. That's what we are looking for, the right combination and the right set of guys to take West Indies into the future. Fidel falls into that category."

The Test also brings together Muralitharan and Australian umpire Darrell Hair for the first time in a Test since Hair called Muralitharan for chucking at Melbourne in 1995. Hair did officiate in Sri Lanka's VB Series matches last year, though.

The teams
Sri Lanka (from) Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Hashan Tillakaratne (capt), Romesh Kaluwitharana (wk), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Kumar Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Prabath Nissanka, Darshana Gamage.

West Indies (from) Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds,Brian Lara (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Ridley Jacobs, Omari Banks, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Corey Collymore, Jerome Taylor, Fidel Edwards.

Umpires Darrell Hair (Aus) and Russell Tiffin (Zim)

Match Referee Wasim Raja (Pak)

[Donny]

Fidel Edwards to make his debut
Sa'adi Thawfeeq - June 26, 2003

Fidel Edwards, the highly rated West Indian quick bowler, was named in the final X1 to take on Sri Lanka in the second Test at Sabina Park, Kingston, starting on Friday, June 27. The 21-year old Edwards, who played just one first-class match for Barbados, will make his debut on a pitch expected to delight fast bowlers. He was brought into the squad at the insistence of Brian Lara, causing a stir in the Caribbean.

Younger brother of Pedro Collins, Edwards's slinging round-arm action is being compared to Jeff Thompsons and his inswinging yorkers remind talent spotters of Waqar Younis in his pomp. Edwards was named the Most Improved Bowler in the Shell Cricket Academy, Grenada. Dr Rudi Webster, the Academy Director, rated him among the most disciplined players to have attended the academy.

The squad announced by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) had two other Barbadian quick bowlers, Corey Collymore and Vasbert Drakes. Merv Dillon was dropped, after going wicketless in the rain-hit first Test at St Lucia.

[Donny]

It was like days of old for West Indies cricket lovers as their team began the 2nd. Test against Sri Lanka with 4 fast bowlers.

Ganga and Dillon were left out and with some apparent life in the wicket, Lara sent SL in to bat.

Only Sangakkara dug in as he top scored with a gutsy 75 in a total of 208. After bowling well early, debutant Fidel Edwards was given the second new ball and finished with 5/36 from 15.4 overs.

Amazingly, this was only Edwards second first class game !!

Collymore took 2/28 from 15 and Banks strangled the middle order with 2/31 from 22.

At stumps, the Windies are 0/4.

[Donny]

Fidel Edwards enjoys fairytale debut
The Wisden Bulletin by Wisden CricInfo staff - June 27, 2003

Fidel Edwards enjoyed a fairytale start to his Test career, claiming five wickets in only his second first-class match, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for a paltry 208 on opening day of the second and final Test at Sabina Park.

Some resolute defence from Kumar Sangakkara – plus five dropped catches and a generous sprinkling of sundries – allowed Sri Lanka to keep a toe in the game, but that could not take the gloss off a day that belonged emphatically to Edwards and the West Indies.

Edwards, a 21-year-old Bajan plucked from obscurity for this deciding Test, started the day as Brian Lara's second change pace bowler. But he won the confidence of his captain with a nerveless performance in the morning, when he bowled with pace and hostility, and was handed the new ball in the evening. He didn't disappoint, claiming the last four wickets as Sri Lanka collapsed in a heap - the last four wickets falling for just 16 runs. Edwards finished with 5 for 36.

Had it not been for Sangakkara, who received scant support from his top order colleagues, Sri Lanka's predicament would have been dire. He should have been Jerome Taylor's first Test wicket before lunch, but Taylor couldn't hold on to the sharp return catch, and in the afternoon Vasbert Drakes found the edge, but the wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs and Brian Lara at first slip both stood rooted as the ball flew between them.

Sangakkara capitalised on his good fortune, grafting hard for his four-and-a-half hour 75 – his 12th Test fifty. Chaminda Vaas, who had also batted adhesively in the opening Test, gave him some resolute after Sri Lanka had slumped to 140 for 6 on the stroke of tea. The pair chiseled out 52 runs for the seventh wicket.

But Edwards ended Sangakkara's resistance immediately after taking the second new ball. Sangakkara made a complete misjudgment – perhaps confused by a strange but powerful slingshot action – and played no shot to a straight delivery to be plumb lbw (192 for 7).

Thilan Thushara Mirando – another debutante – Muttiah Muralitharan and Prabath Nissanka then all fell in quick succession. Vaas was left stranded having faced 80 deliveries for his 12 runs. West Indies survived till the close without loss.

Earlier, Lara's decision to put Sri Lanka into bat after winning the toss paid rich dividends as Corey Collymore and Drakes removed veteran openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu in their opening spells. Jayasuriya was the first to go, caught by the wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs off Collymore for 26 (38 for 1).

Atapattu, who scored a century in the opening Test, contributed just 15 this time as he was well caught by Chris Gayle at second slip off Drakes to leave Sri Lanka tottering on 48 for 2. Mahela Jayawardene (10) fell on the stroke of lunch, caught by a diving Gayle in the slips to become Edwards's first Test victim (77 for 3).

Hashan Tillakaratne should have gone shortly after the resumption as he flashed hard at Edwards and Lara failed to cling on to a catch which came high and hard. Tillakaratne, who never settled, failed to make West Indies pay. Omari Banks was brought into the attack and immediately struck, getting one to turn and bounce, and Tillakaratne gloved to Lara at first slip for 13 (109 for 4).

Banks struck again to remove Romesh Kaluwitharana for 10 in rather unusual circumstances. Kaluwitharana stepped to leg to make room but was undone by prodigious turn, edging the ball into Jacobs's thigh from where Marlon Samuels dived athletically to grab the rebound (129 for 5).

Kumar Dharmasena hung around without looking at all at ease, and it came as little surprise when he fended a Colleymore bouncer to Samuels in the gully for 6 (140 for 6). After the tea interval, though, Sri Lanka provided stiffer resistance.

Earlier, both teams had made changes, beefing up their bowling attacks. West Indies discarded Merv Dillon and Daren Ganga, for Drakes and Edwards, while Sri Lanka dropped Thilan Samaraweera and Kaushal Lokuarachchi.

[couragous cloke]

great start for the youngster, although he did clean up the tail, he'll gain alot of confidence out of it.

as donny said it'll be interesting to see if the pitch played a part in it 2day!

GO WINDIES!!!!!

[Donny]

Yes, the Sri Lankans hit back to gain a small first innings lead when they dismissed the West Indians for 191.

Nissanka took 5/64 and Murali, 2/38 whilst Gayle and Sarwan top scored for the windies with 31 apiece.

By stumps, The Windies had gained the upper hand again by taking 5 SL wickets for only 129 runs.

Collymore has 2/26 and Taylor, 2/38. All batsmen got starts but Jayawardene's 32 was the top score.

With SL 146 ahead, anything can happen here. If they can scramble another 50 or so it will be game on. When one considers 25 wickets have fallen for only 528 runs, the home team will not want to chase more than 180 or so.

Vaas, Nissanka and Murali loom as big dangers on this challenging wicket and the third, and probably last, day looks like being a beauty.

[Donny]

Nissanka fires but Test on knife-edge
The Wisden Bulletin by Wisden Cricinfo staff - June 28, 2003

Prabath Nissanka led a Sri Lanka fightback with the ball on the second day of this decisive second Test, exploiting a juicy Sabina Park pitch to claim his first Test five-for, as West Indies were skittled out for 191. But West Indies' pace quartet then made deep inroads into Sri Lanka's top order to leave the match on a knife-edge at the close.

West Indies held a clear upperhand on the first evening after dismissing Sri Lanka for a paltry 208, but Nissanka - playing in only his fourth Test - clawed the visitors back into the game with his 5 for 64. Muttiah Muralitharan chipped in with the prize scalp of Brian Lara – his 50th wicket against West Indies in his seventh Test.

The bowler's dominance continued though the final session. Corey Colleymore livened up the Kingston crowd with the wickets of Sanath Jayasuriya (13), who was trapped lbw, and Kumar Sangakkara (12), the first innings top scorer, who edged behind (43 for 2). When Marvan Atapattu (2, Sri Lanka's sheet anchor, flirted at a good-length delivery to give Jerome Taylor his first Test wicket, the Sri Lankans were back in trouble (80 for 3).

Mahela Jayawardene (32) and Romesh Kaluwitharana (23) shepherded Sri Lanka back into a more comfortable position during a 38 run stand for the fourth wicket. But two wickets in three balls just before the close meant it was West Indies that finished with their nose ahead. Jayawardene nicked a Fidel Edwards outswinger and Taylor flattened Kalauwitharana's stumps. Sri Lanka closed on 129 for 5 with a slender 146 lead.

Earlier, West Indies had been given a good start by Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds. Gayle smacked 14 off Thilan Thushara's third over, and then Hinds smashed successive fours of Chaminda Vaas. It has all the hallmarks of being a bad day when Muralitharan dropped a skyer from Gayle at mid-on. But then Nissanka weighed in. Gayle tried to leave a ball but gloved it to Sangakkara at gully for 31 (54 for 1) and then Hinds's flashing drive edging to the wicketkeeper Kaluwitharana for 19 (59 for 2).

Lara arrived to a hero's welcome after his double-hundred in St Lucia, but this time Muralitharan won their personal tussle, trapping the flummoxed Lara leg-before with his arm ball. Muralitharan's delight and the crowd's stunned silence told just how important the wicket was. Lara had made 10 and West Indies decision to play the extra bowlers meant their tail was almost exposed to the eager Muralitharan.

Much depended on Ramnaresh Sarwan, but he was bowled behind his legs by Vaas as he shuffled across his stumps for 31 (107 for 4) and thereafter wickets tumbled. Nissanka removed Omari Banks and Marlon Samuels, both caught low at first slip by Hashan Tillakaratne, and Muralitharan bamboozled his way through the tail.

Collymore and Edwards added an idiosyncratic 16 runs for the last wicket as Tillakaratne mystifyingly left Nissanka kicking his heels at long leg. When Nissanka was eventually summoned it took him four balls to end the resistance. In a low-scoring match, the runs eeked out by the West Indies tail could be decisive.