Sri Lanka-Windies in sparring first match today:

Wicket will be difficult early on

West Indies and Sri Lanka will begin a three-match one-day international series at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground with the umpires calling play at 9.30 am.

Although these three matches are of no much significance, yet being internationals and being competed for the Eri Trophy and with the opportunity to add to personal milestones should be keenly contested.

The three matches are part of an earlier scheduled five-match series that had to be called off due to the unexpected heavy rains last year. Anyway the Windies are back and have promised to play some exciting cricket that they are famous for.

What would be of worry to the teams and the spectators is the sudden change of weather with occasional showers. All will be keeping their fingers crossed and praying for bright and sunny weather so that the three games could be concluded without having to call on Duckworth and Lewis to decide.

With the all important 2011 World Cup not very far away, the teams will be using these opportunities to fine tune their game and strategies and decide on the eleven that will go into battle in an endeavour to hold aloft the glittering ICC Trophy.

The side winning the toss will be a bit apprehensive and might take hard, long look at the wicket before deciding whether to bat or field. That is because of the early moisture that would be on the wicket.

Sri Lanka Cricket must be congratulated for getting the SSC ground ready for play at short notice. Curator Anura Polonowita and his ground staff have worked hard to get the wickets fit for play. The ground as always looks a picture. The Windies have brought out their best men who are suited for this style of game.

Twice winners of the World Cup, they are confident that they have the men who can deliver and coach Otis Gibson is on record saying that they are aiming for a semi-final slot in the World Cup. It is encouraging to note the return of that gutty cricketer Ramnaresh Sarwan. He could not make it here for the Test series.

But now that he is back should add more muscle to the Windies batting. ‘Man mountain’ Chris Gayle will lead the Caribbean batting and partnering him will be Adrian Barath. Both are left handers and blasters and a lot will depend on the duo to give the rest of the batting a platform to launch from.

Others to watch in their batting front are - Darren and Dwayne Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Sarwan, Devon Smith and Kieron Pollard. Darren showed what he is capable of during the Test series and it will be interesting to watch how he will go in the ‘cowboy game’.

But the cynosure of all eyes will be the murderer of bowlers once he gets going Kieron Pollard. Pollard showed his big hitting capabilities during the IPL series and spectators here will be eagerly watching to see how he will treat the Lankan bowlers. Of the Windies bowlers, Kemar Roach will be raring to have another go at the Sri Lankan batsmen.

His pace is devastating and the batsmen will be looking and be happy to be at the non strikers end rather than front up to his thunderbolts.

The Lankans have still not decided on their likely playing eleven for the World Cup. They too will use these games and give the possibles a go so that they could catch the selectors eye.

While the batting order looks settled, it is the bowling department that has openings and is a problem. Whether they will want to go pace or spin heavy will be decided after this series. But every thing will depend on the wickets and the conditions. No team will decide on final playing elevens until they have a look at the wicket. How the wickets will play will be known only once the game gets going.

Over then to the SSC and hoping for full 50 overs a side game.