Lankans in T&T determined to up the tempo

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE from the West Indies

The Sri Lankan cricketers delighted with their first ever victory on Caribbean soil when they beat the West Indies in the First Digicel Test at the Providence Stadium in Guyana flew into Tobago to begin a three day practice game in preparation for the Second Test at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad from April 3.

This game was originally slated to be played at St. Augustine in Trinidad. But the venue has now been shifted to Shaw Park in Scarborough, Tobago.

The game against a West Indies Select XI, still to be named, begins on Saturday and is three days duration.

The Sri Lankans will rest some of their players who were over worked in the Guyana Test and give some of their reserves a go.

The Lankans are all fit and well with the only injury concern being wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardena who suffered a hamstring injury and missed most of the victorious Test. But according to the team management, Jayawardena will take his place in the Second Test.

According to Forbes Persaud, Chief Executive Officer of Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, the (TTCB) has had talks with the (WICB) to have the match moved to Tobago.

The (WICB) had no problems in having the venue changed and had sent a representative to Shaw Park to determine and inspect if the venue was up to first class standard.

Persaud further said that if would be good for youngsters in Tobago to see some international cricketers and would really be an attraction for the youngsters to take to the game.

Gayle disappointed

Christopher Gayle, the West Indies captain was a disappointed man after his side lost the First Digicel Test to the Sri Lankans by 121 runs at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Wednesday. Gayle must be doubly disappointed because he becomes the first captain to lose a Test to the Lankans in their own backyard.

The Windies captain who came in for a bit of stick, for not opening in the second innings, instead sending middle order batman Dwayne Bravo first in, explained the background for this move.

‘While Bravo was bowling, I went up to him and said jokingly ‘Bravo, do you want to open the batting and he said, yes it would be better for me ...... coming in and facing the spinners just like that would be difficult. I decided to exchange positions, said the captain.

‘It paid off in the end, but it is not something I will be looking for in the next game for Bravo to open the batting’, he said. Gayle went on to reveal that his side had gained some positives from this defeat.

The skipper lauded the fighting effort of the players. ‘To be honest, I am very disappointed coming out on the losing side, but the guys really fought well. You have to give credit for that’, Gayle told reporters.

For the Lankans it was a memorable victory, brought about by an excellent team effort and well marshalled and by example by skipper Mahela Jayawardene.

They outplayed the West Indies in every session and played the better cricket to secure this historic first Test win in the Caribbean.

Trinidad and Tobago, Friday