Many West Indies teams have visited Sri Lanka prior to 1982 when the country gained Test status. But since then, Sri Lanka-West Indies cricket ties have been largely confined to one-day internationals played at neutral venues and one solitary Test match played in Moratuwa in 1993, which is best remembered for the poor ground conditions and the bad weather rather than for the little cricket that was played.
West Indies cricket presently, is going through a team building process after the heady days of Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards that saw them as undisputed kings of Test cricket for a period of 15 years since March 1980.
For Sri Lanka who are looking to become the best Test-playing nation by the turn of the century, this series against West Indies is of great importance. With many of the present national team players entering the final phase of their international careers, the performances of these youngsters who are expected to fill their places will be scrutinised by the national selectors with great circumspect.
In West Indies 'A' captain ROGER HARPER, Sri Lanka will have the privilege of seeing one of the finest fielders in the world in action. Harper has been rated by former Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin as the best all-round fielder in the world, and there is no doubting that.
Although not an automatic choice in the West Indies team, largely due to the over-emphasis on pace bowling, Harper, who bats lower down the order and bowls off-breaks, has been the victim of being contstantly dropped and then recalled, throughout his 13-year international cricket career.
Harper's long, loping strides, his swoop on the ball at full pelt and his off-balance, on-target throwing has made him one of cricket's most thrilling sights - to all but foohardy batsmen. He was on show briefly during West Indies' tour here in 1993 as a member of Richie Richardson's team.
However, fielding also has its adverse effects. Harper has been quoted in the 'Caribbean Cricket Quarterly' as saying: ``I love fielding because it keeps me involved in the game all the time so I'm never bored. But I've found it tends to overshadow the other parts of my game in the opinion of some people''.
Harper has been omitted and recalled to the West Indies team at least on four occasions. The fact that he has made more one-day appearances for his country than in Tests is how the Caribbean selectors look at his value. He has been recognised more of a one-day all-rounder than one with Test skills - a similar situation faced by Sri Lanka's Ruwan Kalpage, another off-spinning all-rounder like Harper, who is a member of the Sri Lanka 'A' team that will play West Indies 'A' in the next few weeks.
Harper however is not lacking in leadership qualities. He captained Guyana for nine years since 1986 - winning the Shell Shield twice in 1986-87 and 1992-93 and, prior to that the West Indies Young Cricketers side to England in 1982.
STUART WILLIAMS from Leeward Islands is the second most experienced Test cricketer to Harper in the team, having played in 12 Tests. A small, well organsied opener with a keen sense of timing, Williams disappointed in his first international appearances. Following his 1994 debut he played 10 Tests without passing fifty and was dropped. Recalled for the tour to England in 1995, Williams made two further Test appearances, in one of which he completed his maiden fifty before being overlooked once more.
Fast bowler OTTIS GIBSON really came to focus on the tour to Australia in 1995-96 when West Indies were the third country in the World Series Cup, which also featured Sri Lanka. After a solitary Test appearance on his maiden tour of England in 1995, Gibson bowled with great fire to take 16 wickets in five matches which included two hauls of five wickets against Sri Lanka at Hobart (5/42) and at Perth (5/40).
CAMERON CUFFY, a lanky bowler with an action similar to Curtly Ambrose played his two Tests on the tour of India in 1994-95, taking five wickets, but has yet to prove that he is good enough to take over from Walsh and Co. in the senior team.
PHILLO WALLACE, the discarded West Indian opener has been given another chance to win back his place in the senior team and resurrect his international career. His attacking play has attracted a number of local critics because of his lack of judgement. Wallace is reported to have worked hard, and long hours in the nets under the guidance of Sir Garfield Sobers, the former West Indian 'great', and his improvement was emphasised by a solid performance at trials. The Sri Lanka tour will be a vital test of character for the charismatic six-footer, who knows some good performances will open the door for a recall to the openers slot.
The second WILLIAMS in the team, LAURIE, the Jamaican allrounder's appearances for West Indies is confined to just four one-day internationals early this year against New Zealand and Sri Lanka - all at home.
The rest of the squad have yet to break into the Test and One-day international circuit, but they won't be short of advice and guidance to achieve their ambitions as they will be under two former cricket 'greats' of the West Indies - Joel Garner (manager) and Gus Logie (coach).
Meet West Indies 'A'
The following are the brief pen sketches of the West Indies 'A' team:
ROGER Andrew HARPER (Demerara, Guyana, Northamptonshire, West Indies). Captain. 33 years. Born March 17, 1963. Right-hand batsman and off-break bowler.
First class debut : 1979 for Demerara v Berbice.
Test debut : 1983 v India (Calcutta). In 25 Tests has scored 535 runs (avg. 18.44) with a highest score of 74 v England (Manchester) 1988 and taken 46 wickets (avg. 28.06) with a best bowling of 6/57 v England (Manchester) 1984.
One-day International debut : 1983 v India (Srinagar). In 104 matches has scored 855 runs (avg. 16.44) with a highest score of 45 (n.o.) v New Zealand (St. John's), 1985 and taken 100 wickets (avg. 34.15) with best bowling of 4/40 v England (Port-of-Spain) 1994. Catches 55.
CAMERON Eustace CUFFY (St. Vincent, Windward Islands, West Indies). 26 years. Born February 8, 1970. Right-hand batsman and right-arm fast bowler.
First-class debut : 1991 v Leeward Islands.
Test debut : 1994 v India ((Bombay). In 2 Tests has scored one run (avg. 0.50) with a highest score of one v India (Mohali) 1994 and taken 5 wickets (avg. 38.00) with best bowling of 3/80 v India (Mohali), 1994.
One-day International debut : 1994 v India (Faridabad). In 10 matches has scored 20 runs (avg. 6.66) with a highest score of 17 (n.o.) v India (Cuttack) 1994 and taken 7 wickets (avg. 44.85) with best bowling of 2/19 v India (Faridabad) 1994.
SHANE George Bancroft FORD 4(Jamaica). 28 years. Born September 8, 1968. Right-hand bat and wicket-keeper.
First-class debut : 1994 v Windward Islands. In 12 matches has scored 361 runs (avg. 25.78) with a highest score of 56 (n.o.) v Barbados, 1996 and affected 38 dismissals (27 ct, 11 st).
No Tests and one-day internationals.
OTTIS Delroy GIBSON (Barbados, Border, Glamorgan, West Indies). 27 years. Born March 16, 1969. Right-hand batsman and right-arm fast bowler.
First-class debut : 1991 v Windward Islands.
Test debut : 1995 v England (Lord's). In one Test has scored 43 runs (avg. 21.50) with a highest score of 29 v England (Lord's), 1995 and taken two wickets (avg. 66.00) with best bowling of 2/81 v England (Lord's) 1995.
One-day International debut : 1995 v England (Lord's). In 13 matches has scored 138 runs (avg. 15.33) with a highest score of 52 v Australia (Brisbane) 1995-996 and taken 29 wickets (avg. 17.65) with best bowling of 5/40 v Sri Lanka (Perth), 1995-96.
DAVID Rolstan Emmanuel JOSEPH (Antigua, Leeward Islands). Will celebrate his 27th birthday in Sri Lanka on November 15. Right- hand batsman.
First-class debut : 1991 v Barbados. In 18 matches has scored 1106 runs (avg. 42.53) inclusive of four centuries and five fifties, highest score : 131 v Trinidad and Tobago, 1995.
No Tests and one-day internationals.
RAWL Nicholas LEWIS (Grenada and Windward Islands). 22 years. Born September 5, 1974. Right-hand bat and right-arm leg-break and googly bowler.
First-class debut : 1992 v Barbados. In 21 matches has scored 365 runs (avg. 15.20) with a highest score of 53 (n.o.) v Guyana, 1995 and taken 59 wickets (avg. 31.45) with a best bowling of 7/66 v Guyana, 1996, 5wInns : 4.
No Tests and one-day internationals.
MAHENDRA Veeren NAGAMOOTOO (Guyana). 21 years. Born October 8, 1975. Left-hand batsman and right-arm leg-break and googly bowler.
First-class debut : 1995 v Leeward Islands. In 12 matches has scored 214 runs (avg. 11.88) with a highest score of 38 v New Zealand, 1996 and taken 38 wickets (avg. 27.00) with best bowling of 7/76 v Leeward Islands, 1996.
No Tests and one-day internationals.
TONY Orlando POWELL (Jamaica). 23 years. Born December 22, 1972. Left-hand batsman and occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler.
First-class debut : 1992 v Trinidad and Tobago. In 14 matches has scored 658 runs (avg. 27.41) inclusive of one century and five fifties, highest score 125 (n.o.) v Windward Islands, 1995.
No Tests and one-day internationals.
FLOYD Lamonte REIFER (Barbados). 24 years. Born July 23, 1972. Left-hand batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler. Also keeps wickets.
First-class debut : 1992 v Trinidad and Tobago. In 19 matches has scored 1048 runs (avg. 38.81) with two centuries, highest score : 130 v New Zealand, 1996. Eight dismissals (all ct).
No Tests and one-day internationals.
AVIDESH SAMAROO (Trinidad and Tobago). 18 years. Born January 21, 1978. Left-hand bat and left-arm chinaman.
First-class debut : 1996 v Barbados. In six matches has scored 79 runs (avg. 11.28) with a highest score of 25 v Windward Islands, 1996 and taken 22 wickets (avg. 25.81) with a best bowling of 4/44 v Leeward Islands, 1996.
No Tests and one-day internationals.
Colin Ellsworth LAURIE STUART (Guyana). 23 years. Born September 28, 1973. Right-hand batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler.
First-class debut : 1995 v Leeward Islands. In 6 matches has scored 18 runs (avg. 6.00) with a highest score of 8 (n.o.) v Trinidad and Tobago, 1996 and taken 13 wickets (avg. 28.53) with a best bowling of 3/43 v New Zealand 1996.
No Tests and one-day internationals.
PHILO Alphonzo WALLACE (Barbados). 26 years. Born August 2, 1970. Right-hand batsman and wicket-keeper.
First-class debut : 1990 v Jamaica. In 36 matches has scored 2244 runs (avg. 35.06) with 3 centuries,highest score : 135 v Leeward Islands, 1991 and affected 14 dismissals (all ct).
One-day International debut : 1991 v Pakistan (Karachi). In 12 matches has scored 217 runs (avg. 18.08) with a highest score of 52 v India (Adelaide), 1991 and affected three dismissals (all ct).
No Tests.
LAURIE Rohan WILLIAMS (Jamaica). 27 years. Born December 12, 1968. Right-hand batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler. First-class debut : 1990 v England. In 14 matches has scored 447 runs (avg. 21.28) with a highest score of 65 v Pakistan, 1993 and taken 47 wickets (avg. 22.95) with best bowling of 5/32 v Barbados, 1996, 5wInns 3.
One-day international debut : 1996 v New Zealand (Port-of-Spain). In 4 matches has scored 6 runs (avg. 3.00) with a highest score of 6 v Sri Lanka (Port-of-Spain) 1996 and taken 5 wickets (avg. 17.00) with a best bowling of 3/16 v New Zealand (Georgetown), 1996.
No Tests.
STUART Clayton WILLIAMS (Nevis, Leeward Islands, West Indies). 27 years. Born August 12, 1969. Right-hand batsman.
First-class debut : 1989 v Windward Islands.
Test debut : 1994 v England (St John's). In 12 Tests has scored 386 runs (avg. 22.70) with a highest score of 62 v England (Nottingham) 1995.
One-day international debut : 1994 v India (Faridabad). In 28 matches has scored 740 runs (avg. 28.46) with five fifties, highest score : 73 (n.o.) v New Zealand (Auckland) 1995.
JOEL GARNER (Barbados). 43 years. Born December 16, 1952. Manager.
Nicknamed 'Big Bird' because of his height of six feet, 7 1/2 inches he was a very tall, strong fast bowler with natural high bounce and an ability to swing and cut the ball. Relentlessly ac- curate, he was one of the most difficult bowlers in the world from whom to score runs. Represented West Indies in 58 Tests tak- ing 259 wickets (avg. 20.97) with seven hauls of five wickets or more in an innings. His best figures were 6/56.
Augustine Lawrence 'GUS' LOGIE (Trinidad and Tobago). 36 years. Born September 28, 1960. Coach.
A right-hand batsman, small cheerful and extremely talented, who can generally be found holding the side together on occasions when the West Indies batting is threatening to fall apart. He was also a superb fielder. Played for West Indies in 52 Tests scoring 2470 runs (avg. 35.79) with two centuries and 16 fifties. Held 57 catches.