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by Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Having steam-rolled the West Indies to a 3-0 defeat in the Tests, Sri Lanka start the LG Abans triangular one-day international series as favourites when they take on Zimbabwe in the lung opener of the seven-match tournament at the SSC grounds at 10 a.m. today.

But coach Dav Whatmore warned: "In this day and age. Zimbabwe and West Indies aren't easy matches, so we will be treating them as tough as anyone".

"It is good that we have the one-day tournament after winning a Test series. It is a tremendous way to start because you are playing against the same opposition, having won a different game of course.

"Our objective is to win and win strongly. In doing so, I am not sure any team, perhaps with the exception of Bangladesh, and the odd occasion, Kenya, you can go with any expectations. If you go out with the expectation of being easy, I think it might turn around to your disadvantage," said the Sri Lankan coach sizing up his team's chances.

Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya also speaking on the same wavelength said: "We can't take any side lightly in the one-day game. Although West Indies and Zimbabwe are not rated very high in the one-day rankings, on the particular day, whoever does well, will win. We can't underestimate either of them".

"The West Indies are a good side and Zimbabwe have been through a lot of international cricket in the last two months and been in good form. We have to be serious and be more positive," said Jayasuriya.

"Our confidence is very high after winning the Test series against West Indies. I hope we can continue that good all-round form into the one-dayers as well," he said.

One big plus factor for the Lankans is the return of all-rounder Suresh Perera into the no. 7 slot. The hard hitting right-hander and right-arm seamer proved more than a handful in the last one-day triangular played here against India and New Zealand in July-August before a suspect bowling action put him out of the game for a short period.

The return of lanky left-arm paceman Nuwan Zoysa also adds strength to the bowling, but not as what skipper Jayasuriya would have liked.

"When one bowler comes in another goes out. Although Zoysa has come in, Dilhara Fernando is out with a stress fracture in his back. That is the problem we are experiencing at the moment. If we can have Dilhara, Vaas and Zoysa, we will have an experienced bowling attack.

"It is good that Zoysa is back. He has been performing well right from the start in the second Test match. He is using his experience and has added a few variations to his bowling and learning a few things from Vaas like the reverse swing," said Jayasuriya.

Wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana's absence through injury has given Kumar Sangakkara an opportunity to cement his place in the one-day team as batsman/wicket-keeper. Sangakkara has been unable to hold a regular place in the side in recent times due to Kaluwitharana's presence.

"Our first objective is to get into the final. If we can do that as early as possible, then it leaves us time for perhaps making a few strategic changes. In the early stage we want to play some good cricket in order to bank up some points and ensure we are there in the final," said Whatmore.

Potential fast bowlers Buddhika Fernando and Prabath Nissanka will certainly figure in the team plans if Sri Lanka make an early entry into the final, which would leave them with room to experiment.

"Both Buddhika and Nissanka have a very good future in the Sri Lanka one-day team. Nissanka has very good potential. He can bowl fast and become useful on tours to Australia and South Africa," said Jayasuriya.

Whatmore said the inclusion of an extra spinner in the squad (Upul Chandana) compared to what they had against India and New Zealand suggests that spin might be little more of an option in the tournament than the quicks. Zimbabwe's new captain Stuart Carlisle was confident that his team could make it to the final of the competition.

"I think we've got a good chance of getting into the finals. Sri Lanka are definitely are going to be hard to beat. They are on top of their game at the moment and they are playing good cricket. They have got a good side.

West Indies are a side that we had good contest against. On the day it depends on whose basically going to play the best cricket," said Carlisle who took over the Zimbabwe captaincy when Brian Murphy broke his hand in the first Test against Bangladesh.

Carlisle went on to lead Zimbabwe clinch the Test and one-day series against Bangladesh.

"This is the first time I am captaining in Sri Lanka and a first big series. It is especially a first for me. Obviously, we've been through a few captains recently. I can't comment on those reasons, but it's a new challenge for me and I am looking forward to it. Playing better sides like West Indies and Sri Lanka is going to be a big challenge," said Carlisle.

He said that Zimbabwe cricket was going through a transitional period having left out experienced players like Alistair Campbell and Guy Whittall, whom he said may return for the three-Test series starting next month. Zimbabwe who have brought 14 players for the tournament are down to actually 12 with injuries to Sean Ervine whose out with a stress fracture in his back and all-rounder Gary Brent who is suffering from a left shoulder injury.

Zimbabwe's other areas of concern are their fielding which has dropped from what it was sometime ago and which they have been working hard to achieve perfection and the poor starts they have got from their openers.

Andy Flower and Craig Wishart are the key middle order batters Zimbabwe will be relying on. "Wishart has been batting beautifully and he is a strong hitter. He could do the job for us. We are very proud to have a player like Andy in the side. We respect him. He's done very well in the last two years he has just really lifted his game and matured and he is very experienced now. It's always a great advantage to have someone like Andy. He's done it for us many times especially against the spinners. He can turn a game. If we are only going at three, he can lift the game going at four by natural stroke play. He is a class act," he said.

The teams

Sri Lanka (from): Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Avishka Gunawardana, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Suresh Perera, Chaminda Vaas, Kumar Dharmasena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Zoysa, Upul Chandana, Chamara Silva.

Zimbabwe (from): Stuart Carlisle (captain), Heath Streak, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Dion Ebrahim, Trevor Gripper, Craig Wishart, Douglas Marillier, Mluleki Nkala, Travis Friend, Henry Olonga, Tatendra Taibu, Gary Brent.

Umpires: Gamini Silva and Nandasena Pathirana.

TV umpire: Asoka de Silva, Match Referee: Raman Subba Row (England).  

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