Lankans arrive in Trinidad & Tobago

Elmo Rodrigopulle from West Indies

The Sri Lankan cricketers delighted with their first historic Test victory on Caribbean soil touched down from Tobago unheralded and unsung. Not one of the newspapers here had a line of the team's arrival.

Mahela Jayawardena's team was disappointed that they were deprived of the scheduled three-day practice game before the Second Test against the West Indies at Queen's Park Oval, starting here on Thursday.

It was utter callousness and irresponsibility on the part of the West Indies Cricket Board, that prevented the three-day game. The tour schedule was arranged months ahead and a three-day game was slated for St. Augustine.

Then the WICB came out with a lame excuse saying that flight difficulties stood in the way of organising this game and promised a two day game in Tobago.

But that too was big talk. The Lankans had to grin and bear and get their preparations going by having a net. On arrival in Trinidad, they were greeted by rain and the wicket was not fit for practice. They were back to the indoor nets.

One hopes that Sri Lanka Cricket would have told the counterparts what they thought about the whole fiasco. It is paramount that they do so.

Jayawardena recovering

When I contacted the manager Srian Samararatne at the Marriot, the squad was readying to leave for a practice session. When asked about the players, Samararatne said that all are fit and well and made special mention of wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardena, who he said was recovering fast and would certainly take his place behind the stumps in the Second Test.

Jayawardena who suffered a hamstring injury, missed most of the action and watched the team chalk up the historic win.

Kumar Sangakkara who deputised, took the catches that came his way, although he looked a bit rusty letting off some extras.

The manager said that the team is confident that they can do what they did in Guyana and win the Second Test too and make a clean sweep of the series. It is customary not to tinker with a winning combination. But the Lankans were keen to see how paceman Ishara Amerasinghe would go on these wickets. But the Lankans were deprived of testing Amerasinghe with a practice game being cancelled.

Windies unknown

With the Second Test beginning on Thursday, the West Indies have not yet named their squad. Probably it would be the same squad, with no new inclusions.

With criticism mounting over the leaving out of off spinner Amrit Jauggernauth, it would be interesting to see whether the WI selectors would again want to go in with left arm spinner Suleimen Benn or toss in home town hero Jaggernauth.

Jaggernauth bowled with success in the Carib Beer match against Barbados and nudged the selectors. At the time of writing dark clouds are hovering around and it is hoped that the rains would not play the role of spoil sport when the crucial Second Test gets under way. Trinidad & Tobago, Monday