Windies women’s tour preparation for World Cup- Campbell - Campbell

Chris Dhambarage

Sri Lanka and the West Indies will be hoping that their up coming series will be the ideal preparation ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) women’s World Cup to be staged in Australia in March next year.

The two teams will commence a five match one day international series on November 5 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

Both teams are looking forward to make their final preparations during the Series which will conclude with back to back matches on November 11 and 12 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Sri Lanka of course will start as the favourites after a successful Asia Cup campaign at home where they emerged as the runners up to their arch rivals India recently. In addition Sri Lanka is urrently ranked fourth while the West Indies are placed eighth in the ICC rankings.

Sri Lanka have been drawn in group ‘B’ for the World Cup together with India, England and Pakistan while the West Indies are in the top half along with the defending champions Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Sri Lanka have picked a new look side for the series against the West Indies which will be captained by Shashikala Siriwardena who will be leading the country for the first time against a non subcontinent team. They will also have the services of two new players - Colombo Cricket Club’s Chandi Wickramaratne and Udeshika Prabhodini and have also recalled sisters Rose and Hiruka Fernando after a break of three years.

Rose has played one Test match and 28 one day internationals between 1997 and 2004 while Hiruka has represented the country in a total of 43 one day internationals between 1997 and 2005. Their return to the side will be of great significance because both players had the credit of touring the West Indies in 2003.

Nadine George, the 39-year-old left-hand batsman will continue to lead the West Indies side while seam bowler Kirbyina Alexander will be her deputy. All rounders Phernel Charles, Shanel Daley and Erva Giddings are the three newcomers to the squad. The trio impressed during the recent domestic women’s tournament played in St Lucia.

This tour is West Indies’ first international assignment following their tour of England, Netherlands and Ireland this summer and is seen as a key part of their preparation for the World Cup in Australia in March 2009.

The squad is fresh after having successfully completed a five-day training camp in Barbados during which the players undertook gym work, fitness tests, physical sessions, and net sessions. The West Indies coach Sherwin Campbell said that the idea in having this training camp was to get the maximum amount of work before heading to the sub continent.

The former West Indies opening batsman said that they are looking to work on the skills of the players and get them in the right frame of mind and will be hoping to make the most of every opportunity as this is likely to be their last tour before the World Cup.

The teams:

Sri Lanka squad: Shashikala Siriwardene (captain), Chamari Polgampola, Dedunu Silva, Chamika Bandara, Suwini de Alwis, Eshani Kaushalya, Chamani Seneviratna, Sanduni Abeywickrama, Inoka Galagedara, Dilani Manodara, Sripali Weerakkody, Rose Fernando, Chandi Wickramaratne, Udeshika Prabodhini and Hiruka Fernando.

West Indies squad: Nadine George (captain), Stefanie Taylor, Charlene Taitt, Deandra Dottin, Shanel Daley, Kirbyina Alexander, Danielle Small, Juliana Nero, Stacy Ann King, Phernel Charles, Anisa Mohammed, Erva Giddings, Merissa Aguilleira and Afy Fletcher. The fixtures: November 5: 1st one day international at Dambulla November 7: 2nd one day international at Dambulla November 9: 3rd one day international at Dambulla November 11: 4th one day international at R. Premadasa Stadium November 12: 5th one day international at R. Premadasa Stadium.