What's new

Sri Lanka v West Indies, 2nd Test, Kandy [21/7/05]

Status
Not open for further replies.

Amjid Javed

PakPassion's 100,000 posts man
Joined
Mar 3, 2004
Runs
118,253
Post of the Week
8
sri lanka lead 2 match series 1-0

West Indies hardly needed any more distractions. A bitter player dispute with the West Indies cricket Board over personal sponsorships, a dispute that has created rancour between those now in the squad and those who refused to sign tour contracts, already provides a large enough distraction. But as they prepare for the second and crucial Test, a dark cloud hovers over their star bowler of the opening match.
Jermaine Lawson's 8 for 102 appeared to be a triumphant return to the Test arena after two years of controversy and injury. His express pace and hostility rocked the Sri Lankans in both innings at the Sinhalese Sports Club and created an opportunity for a famous victory. Ultimately, it was a chance squandered, as Sri Lanka's tail wagged stubbornly on the second afternoon, exposing the West Indies' inexperience, but Lawson had identified himself as a match-winner and in the present scenario, there are precious few of those.

West Indies players have rallied around Lawson, according to Shivnarine Chanderpaul, their captain and solitary batting pillar. They appear almost certain to pick him too, although he will face the world's scrutiny every time he runs into bowl. It will be a mountainous test of character for a 23-year-old man. Chanderpaul will ask him before the start to focus only on the game but conquering all the demons that must surely be running through his mind will be easier said than done.

West Indies' only hope is that his team-mates rally with deeds as well as kind words. His fellow fast bowlers, especially Tino Best and Daren Powell, need to raise their games and carry some of Lawson's burden. The batsman, pathetically weak in the second innings last weekend - five of the top six contributing just 11 runs - must quickly work out survival strategies against Sri Lanka's premier bowlers, Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan.

The tourist's cause has not been helped by the unsettled weather in the hill country leading up to the game. The wet weather prevented the curator from producing proper practice nets and batting practice has been limited to a few minutes on the eve of the match. Fortunately, according to the locals, the weather is now set to clear after Thursday's Poya Day (Full Moon) holiday.

West Indies main selection quandary is whether to include Ryan Ramdass for his debut. The opener, who scored heavily in the A team series that preceded this tour, would probably have played in Colombo were it not for a shoulder injury but he has now been passed fit. Xavier Marshall, a double failure in the first Test, may be the player to make way should Ramdass get the nod, although he too impressed with the A team.

Sri Lanka's preparations have not been trouble-free either, and for the third consecutive training session, Muttiah Muralitharan was confined to his bed trying to shake off the flu. The other flu-ridden players - Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chaminda Vaas and Sanath Jayasuriya (tonsilitis) - looked perkier than the previous day but hardly pictures of good health as they worked out gently in the morning.

All the players are set to play, according to Marvan Atapattu, and the only hope is that no -one else succumbs to a virus that started from the top, the manager and captain, before spreading like wildfire. Aside from the flu, all the niggles and minor injuries appear to be under control and Sri Lanka will be picking from a full squad.

Sri Lanka could make changes, and both the captain and coach hinted at this. "We will play the best team to win in the conditions," said Tom Moody, adding, "and the conditions appear to be different." Although there has been rain, the pitch is brown and grassless and expected to take turn. This means that Sri Lanka are likely to retain two spinners, with Upul Chandana possibly coming in for Rangana Herath. Nuwan Zoysa is also pushing hard for Gayan Wijekoon's place.

Considering that Sri Lanka have a 1-0 lead and struggled mainly with their batting in the first Test, an extra batsman, the in-form Russel Arnold, may be discussed at No 7 when the management meets in the evening. But this defensive move would leave them with just two quick bowlers, a gamble if the unsettled weather does not clear away with the full moon as anticipated.

Likely teams:

Sri Lanka 1 Marvan Atapattu, 2 Sanath Jayasuriya, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Thilan Samaweera, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Chaminda Vaas, 8 Upul Chandana, 9 Nuwan Zoysa, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Lasith Malinga.

West Indies 1 Ryan Ramdass, 2 Slyvester Joseph, 3 Runako Morton, 4 Narsingh Deonarine, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Dwaine Smith, 7 Denesh Ramdin, 8 Omari Banks, 9 Tino Best, 10 Daren Powell, 11 Jermaine Lawson.
 
WI cud have pinned their hopes for a draw had they played BC Lara ( u can always expect his special treat whn chips are down)

but wid him being out of the WI line up i believe tht even Bangladeshi bowlers will be a match for Carribean batting

And less said the better abt the WI bowling
Lawson seemd a true gem in the 1st test for WI but he perhaps is un done by being reported in the middle of a tour
these distractions are bound to affect his bowling


SO while the test series draw vs. Pakistan might have entertained any hopes in the Carribean abt a better showing in Srilanka , than he last time they toured , all hopes are dashed now
 
Looking forward to seeing a great fast bowling spell from Jermaine Lawson inshallah.

Also looking forward to Jaysuriya decimating the Windies bowling attack inshallah.
 
the sad thing 4 us is when s.africa played windies there was a player dispute and now windies are playing sri.lanka there is a player dispute

in between when they played us, all of their players were available
 
Hussain said:
wiud be more like a jayasuria vs. club cricket bowlers

Club bowlers or not its always a pleasure to see Jayasuriya bat.

I really hope that before he retires he produces a really destructive 1996 type innings. That 130 odd off 60 odd was awesome. 11 fours and 11 sixes!
 
Lanka 81/4

MS Atapattu b Best 17
ST Jayasuriya c Ramdin b Powell 2
+KC Sangakkara c Morton b Powell 6
DPMD Jayawardene c Morton b Best 6

Who's decimating who?
 
Raz said:
I really hope that before he retires he produces a really destructive 1996 type innings. That 130 odd off 60 odd was awesome. 11 fours and 11 sixes!


fruitless to hope for tht Jaya has abandoned his pinch hitting policy for years now
 
94/4

I guess the Windie bowling is not what you'd call "metronomical"...

In 26 overs only 1 maiden...
 
I guess the Windie bowling is not what you'd call "metronomical"...

In 26 overs only 1 maiden...

u cant even call these guys bowlers
 
Samaraweera and Dilshan dealing in 4's at the moment...

Run out! Dilshan for 46... Good work from Best off his own bowling then.

I guess that's the end of that

98/5
 
114/6

Guess Vaas won't be repeating his heroics of last week...

Samaraweera holding steady...

Banks not doing too badly with his pie-throwers then...
 
148/9

Powell bowling well....

150 all out...
 
Last edited:
Asim2Good said:
u meant WI 12/2 seems this match is also on once again
Thanks Asim...I was getting a little carried away there...:P
 
sri lanka wrap up series 2-0

Sri Lanka 150 & 375/7d

West Indies 148 & 137 (41.2 ov)

-- Sri Lanka won by 240 runs

murali 8/46 off 16.2 overs :O
 
I only got to see a little yesterday...when Sangers was batting (slaughtering)?

It was sad the way the Windies capitulated...I really hope they resolve their issues..It's like watching Zimbabwe or Bangladesh....Sad really, and not good for world cricket.

As far as Murali is concerned, it's basically the inexperience of the Windies I feel. The little I managed to see of Murali, he really wasn't THAT un-playable, that it would warrant an 8 wicket haul...But then again, I was watching, not playing....

Unfortunately will have to leave now...attending the Hansie Cronjè function tonight and need to get my camera and notebook ready!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top