GALLE, Sri Lanka (Reuters)
West Indies captain Carl Hooper said that there was no easy way to counter Muttiah Muralitharan after he carried Sri Lanka to a 10-wicket victory in the first Test.

"When you play against world-class bowlers I don't think you can plan," he said. "It is not as if he's got one particular strength. He bowls virtually everything.

"He's got a straighter ball, a flighted ball and a flat ball, so basically, you've got to play what you see, I don't think you can plan for someone like Muralitharan."

Sri Lanka won after Muralitharan took five for 44, for overall figures of 11 for 169. West Indies collapsed to 144 all out in the second innings.

Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya said: "We won because we stuck to the basics against their key players Brian Lara and Hooper.

"They were our only worries because they have the experience and knowhow to handle Murali.

"We didn't want to try anything silly. As the wicket was turning more, the bowlers concentrated on their line and length."

Lara managed 178 in the first innings and 40 in the second while Hooper made 69 and six.

The second match of the three-Test series starts in Kandy on Wednesday.

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