Final Test begins at Pallekelle today:

Teams hope for better weather conditions

Chris Dhambarage reporting from Pallekelle

Sri Lanka and the West Indies will be hoping for an improved weather conditions when the two teams clash in the third and deciding Test match at the newly constructed Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium starting from today.

This will also be a historic moment as the match will mark the inaugural Test match to be played at this picturesque venue which has been specially designed for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

As a result both teams are unaware of the alien conditions and will be fully focused on the nature of the wicket especially during the opening day of the Test which will be crucial for both teams.

There have been of course a couple of domestic matches played at this venue in the recent past but Kumar Sangakkara and Darren Sammy will be following the situation closely as they look to deliver the final blow after two draws at Galle and R Premadasa Stadium respectively.

Even then Sri Lanka will take the field with their heads high and with a slight psychological advantage after having had the better of the exchanges in the rain affected second Test played at the R. Premadasa Stadium last week.

The Sri Lankan spinners will now be hoping to extend their dominance against the West Indies batting line up and to add the finishing touches in pursuit of a series clinching victory.

Both Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath seem to have got into a perfect rhythm and will be keen to maintain the same momentum following their impressive performances in the second Test.

However Sri Lanka will be looking for another inspired performance from their young fast bowler Suranga Lakmal who made his Test debut last week at the R Premadasa Stadium.

He certainly had a dream start to his career while capturing the prize wicket of West Indies opener Chris Gayle who in fact hammered a splendid 333 in the first Test at the Galle Stadium.

Apart from the explosive Gayle the other key player in the West Indies batting lineup is their promising left hander Darren Bravo who has played some useful innings in the opening two Test matches.

In fact Darren Bravo left his mark in the second test as well with an elegant half century that helped the visitors to avert the follow on mark and force a draw at the end.

The teams:

Sri Lanka (from): Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Mahela Jayawardena, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavithana, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardena, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dilhara Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Rangana Hearath, Thilina Kandamby, Kaushal Silva, Shaminda Eranga.

West Indies (from): Darren Sammy (captain), Brendon Nash, Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Devon Smith, Carlton Baugh, Suleiman Benn, Nelson Pascal, Andrew Russell, Shane Shillingford, Kemar Roach, Devon Thomas.

Umpires: Asad Rauf and Bruce Oxenford. TV umpire: Rod Tucker. 4th umpire: Ranmore Martinesz.