da realsbet： Carl Hooper acknowledged yesterday that the West Indiesplayed straight into their hands by using two spinners inlast week’s first Test against Sri Lanka and signalled areturn to what we know best for the remaining two
Tony Cozier21-Nov-2001Carl Hooper acknowledged yesterday that the West Indiesplayed straight into their hands by using two spinners inlast week’s first Test against Sri Lanka and signalled areturn to what we know best for the remaining two.But the addition of a third fast bowler, instead of left-armspinner Neil McGarrell, did not involve Reon King who, afterconfusion not out of place in the chaotic world of Caribbeanpolitics, was finally ruled out of contention by what thecaptain called a slight hernia problem.There’s some swelling there and we were not sure Reon wouldbe able to complete the Test, Hooper explained.We saw in the first Test the amount of work the fast bowlerswere asked to do and to play Reon would be a big risk, headded. We’re behind and, if we’re to beat Sri Lanka, we needall three quicks operating.Merv Dillon and Colin Stuart, the only fast bowlers used inthe first Test defeat by ten wickets, sent down 88.4 betweenthem in sweltering heat as Sri Lanka’s batsmen amassed 590for nine declared on Galle’s slow, lifeless pitch.At least they claimed two wickets each. McGarrell had noneand Pedro Collins gained his place over Marlon Black as muchfor the variety of his left-handedness as much as anythingelse.As was the case when Collins played his last Test, inZimbabwe in July, he comes in without a first-class match ontour behind him.The fast bowlers were all more encouraged to find a pitchwith an altogether grassier, livelier look to it thanGalle’s and temperatures, if not humidity, a few degreescooler in the lush green, hillside town of Kandy.Had he been fit or the selectors trusted the local doctor’sopinion more, the third spot would probably have gone toKing.The medical opinion here when he was examined last weekendwas that the hernia was in its early stages and would nothave prevented him playing.He bowled freely in the nets on Monday but, according toSkerritt, reported yesterday that he did not feelcomfortable and did not participate in the final netsession.Yet it is batsmen, not bowlers, who lose matches and it wasthe batting that led to the defeat in Galle with itscollapses after lunch on the second day and an hour-and-aquarter into the last.Taken cumulatively, 15 wickets fell in those two periods for99, nine of them to Muttiah Muralitheran.The crafty little off-spinner has been the key to most SriLankan victories of late and if the West Indies batsmen notBrian Lara alone fail to get the measure of him again, theoutcome will be no different.Muralitheran’s support will be boosted by the return of the6-foot-6 inch Numan Zoysa who returns to the team afterinjury to partner Chaminda Vaas in an all left-handed newball attack.Zoysa has 28 wickets in 17 previous Tests and replacesBuddika Fernando, who went without a wicket in his debut inGalle.Sri Lanka’s recent record is poor on the picturesque ground,owned by adjoining Trinity College, set adjacent to ahillside and expanded for international cricket in the pastfive years to accommodate 10 000 with a main stand and amedia centre.The home team has lost its last three Tests here, to SouthAfrica, England and India, each time after winning the firstin Galle. It has created a superstition among the fans andeven a few of the players have referred to it.The West Indies need whatever help they can get, from anysource, to square the series. But Dav Whatmore, the SriLankan coach, has rightly put the issue into its properperspective.We have to acknowledge our record in Kandy hasn’t been goodbut a cricket match isn’t won by any hoodoo, voodoo orhoroscopes, he said. It is won or lost by what you do out inthe middle.The teams:West Indies: Carl Hooper (captain), Daren Ganga,Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Marlon Samuels,Ridley Jacobs, Merv Dillon, Dinanath Ramnarine, PedroCollins and Colin Stuart.Sri Lanka (probable): Sanath Jayasuriya (capt),Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene,Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillakaratne, Thilan Samaraweera,Chaminda Vaas, Niroshan Bandaratillake, MuttiahMuralithathan and Numan Zoysa.Umpires: John Hampshire (England), E.A.R deSilva (SriLanka).Match referee: Raman Subba Row (England).