West Indian preparations for the first Test in Galle, which have already been hampered by security fears, poor weather and the production of a spinner friendly surface, have been hit by fresh injury problems on the eve of the series opener.
Opening fast bowler Reon King will not play having been diagnosed as having a suspected hernia. Team manager Ricky Skerrit said that he could have played with painkillers, but the management have decided instead to play an extra spin bowler.
Skerrit added that it was too early to say whether King would have to return to the Caribbean for surgery.
The injury leaves the West Indies with a bowling attack short of match practice on a brown, flat pitch, after poor weather during their two practice games meant only four frontline bowlers were able to bowl under match conditions.
West Indies have opted instead for the left-arm spin of Neil McGarrell, ahead of fast bowlers Pedro Collins and Marlon Black. Skeritt stressed that the decision to pick an extra spinner was based upon the belief that the pitch would take spin.
There are also doubts over the fitness of support bowler Colin Stuart, who was impressive in Matara, picking up two wickets, but was forced to leave the field after just 12 overs with severe leg cramps. The management maintains that he is fine, but he has to contend with severe heat and humidity in Galle.
Hooper admitted that: "We would have loved to have another game before this Test, but we have got a Test match tomorrow and we have got to look forward to it. We have made the best use of the practice we have had and we are ready."
It's the first time that the two sides have played Test cricket against each other for four and a half years. Sri Lanka have never won a Test against the West Indies, but look slight favourites here thanks to a slow, turning pitch. Indeed, the home team has won four out of the six Tests played in Galle.
The curator, Jayanda Warnaweera, predicts a result on the fourth or the fifth day and the Sri Lankans are all set to play three frontline spinners, in addition to the left-arm spin of Sanath Jayasuriya.
Skipper Jayasuriya admitted that the teams strategy would be spin-based: "You never really know exactly how this Galle wicket is going to play, but we might go in with a different looking attack (against India in Galle they had fielded four fast bowlers). The pitch looks hard underneath. For the first two days it should be an excellent wicket to bat on and then it should start to turn. The spinners will have to bowl a lot of overs on this."
He was, however, quick to point out what happened last year in Galle last year, when Pakistan picked four fast bowlers, the ball didn't turn, and Sri Lanka were soundly thrashed. This pitch, though, is certainly drier.
Left arm spinner Niroshan Bandaratillake, 26, is therefore set to make a comeback after two and a half years in the wilderness. He is joined by off-spinning all-rounder Thilan Samaraeera and, of course, Muttiah Muralitharan. He has been suffering from a sore shoulder in recent times, but physio Alex Kontouri brushed it is aside as a "minor" niggle.
Hooper was not surprised by Sri Lanka's strategy. "We have looked at video tapes of the series against England, and the Galle pitch looked like it turned more than the other venues, so we knew they would be thinking about three spinners. Traditionally, spin has played a big part here"
During these early tour interviews the most commonly raised topic is Muralitharan and what plans the opposition has to neutralise him. Nasser Hussain talked about lowering his strike rate and Sourav Ganguly believed that players had to be positive. Hooper, such a sublime player of the turning ball, just shrugs his shoulders and says: "We are going to treat Muralitharan like anybody else, by trying to put the loose balls away and keeping the good balls out."
How West Indies batsmen cope with Muralitharan is undoubtedly a key factor in the series. If the experienced Brian Lara and Hooper can get on top early, then life will become easier for the young guns: Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Marlon Samuels.
If the West Indies can hold him at bay and post some reasonable scores then their fast bowlers will have the opportunity to put pressure on the Sri Lankan batsmen, who have, time and again, shown themselves to be susceptible to quick bowlers. This will be especially so in Kandy and SSC, where they will get greater assistance, both in the air and off the pitch.
Sri Lanka will recall middle order batsmen Russel Arnold, who was dropped for their last Test against Bangladesh in September, after his good form in Sharjah. The only matter of debate is the second fast bowler. Ruchira Perera is the likeliest selection with Nuwan Zoysa having played just one first class match in nearly six months after an ankle injury.
Likely teams:
Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillakaratne, Thilan Samaraweera, Chaminda Vaas, Niroshan Bandaratillake, Muttiah Muralithathan, Ruchira Perera
West Indies: Carl Hooper (capt), Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Marlon Samuels, Ridley Jacobs, Mervyn Dillon, Colin Stuart, Dinanath Ramnarine, Neil McGarrel
© CricInfo
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