West Indies in Sri Lanka

[brod]

Sri Lankan Cricket Presidents XI v West indian XI
First Class Match
Colmbo

MATCH DRAWN (no play Day 2 or 30

West Indian XI 176
BP Nash 62
BAW Mendis 2/28
Sri Lankan XI 3/59

[brod]

Fast bowler Lasith Malinga has become such a precious commodity that Sri Lanka are considering not risking him in any of the upcoming three Tests against West Indies. The spearhead of the Sri Lankan bowling attack in one-dayers along with Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga was left out of the first Test in Galle starting Monday. He may not play in the rest of the series because Sri Lanka intends keeping him injury-free, fit and fresh for the 2011 World Cup which begins next February.

"With the injury he has, it could easily come back," Mahela Jayawardene said. "It's a very rare injury on the knee and him playing three Tests against West Indies would definitely hamper him. I don't think we'll risk playing him in Test cricket just before the World Cup. The selectors [will] probably play him in a few of the one-dayers against West Indies."

[brod]

Sri Lanka's batting is pretty settled, with Nos 1 to 7 being guaranteed starters. The bowling isn't though, in the absence of Malinga and Murali. Suraj Randiv has been picked out by Sangakkara as Sri Lanka's main spinner, so he's likely to play but it remains to be seen who will partner him. The fast bowlers will have an additional responsibilty as Angelo Mathews won't be bowling his medium-pacers due to a thigh strain.

Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Tharanga Paranavitana, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Thilan Samaraweera, 7 Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), 8 Suraj Randiv, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Dilhara Fernando, 11 Chanaka Welegedera


West Indies are also missing key fast bowlers which leaves the young Kemar Roach as their pace spearhead. The pitch is expected to assist spinners, but will West Indies pick both Sulieman Benn and Shane Shillingford, or go with one spinner and expect Gayle to send down a few overs?

West Indies (probable) 1 Adrian Barath, 2 Chris Gayle, 3 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 4 Brendan Nash, 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Darren Bravo, 7 Darren Sammy (capt), 8 Carlton Baugh (wk), 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Nelon Pascal, 11 Sulieman Benn

[mal]

WI 1/225 [52.3]
GAYLE 138*[150] would be great to watch this dig
BRAVO 29* [83]

WI might be 400+ at stumps, especially if Chris is still batting
Is this a precurser of things to come with no Muralichuckeran ?

[Media Park]

WI 1/225 [52.3]
GAYLE 138*[150] would be great to watch this dig
BRAVO 29* [83]

WI might be 400+ at stumps, especially if Chris is still batting
Is this a precurser of things to come with no Muralichuckeran ?

I hope so.

After all these years of that cheating chucker, I hope they get record scores piled against them until they end up like Zimbabwe.

[godoubleblues]

Gayle now 170 off 188 balls, he seems to have slowed down a bit in the last few overs

WI are 1 for 283 with 22 overs left today
Darren Bravo not 50 on debut

[cripple]

Great work by Gayle. Looking at the batting card, Gayle now has some decent support around him, especially Dwayne Bravo and Barath. Hopefully means that his big scores finally put the windies on the way to winning matches instead of just competing in them, I hope so anyway. Batting first for the windies should also advantage big Benn towards the end of the match.

In regards to no murali, no S.L., think you guys are miles of the mark. Randiv showed a little in the ODI's against the aussies and ajantha menthis is meant to be a freak. We should all know after last summer that when Gayle gets going, he is the most unstoppable and punishing player in world cricket, sehwag included.

[Media Park]

Only thing I have a concern with the Windies is, Darren Bravo and Russell, the other debutant, haven't really justified Test call ups...

Neither bowl, and Bravo has a mid-30s average, and Russell only the one century and averaging 22.

I don't know the state of WI cricket, and I don't know what's happening domestically, but...

I did notice a West Indian batter with a handy record make some runs for a Zimbabwe T20 province the other day.

[godoubleblues]

Gayle just hit his 8th six to go to 185
apparently it is the record for most 6s in an innings for WI

and just I am typing this, Bravo is out for 58
WI now 2 for 306

[godoubleblues]

double ton up for Gayle, from 221 balls

[mal]

double ton up for Gayle, from 221 balls

Its time for Gayle to stop being selfish and give the strike to Chanderpaul 3*[25]

2/324 [80.2]

[godoubleblues]

double ton up for Gayle, from 221 balls

Its time for Gayle to stop being selfish and give the strike to Chanderpaul 3*[25]

2/324 [80.2]

Shiv is stepping up the pace now, he is 10 from 35

[brod]

Gayle just hit his 8th six to go to 185
apparently it is the record for most 6s in an innings for WI
and just I am typing this, Bravo is out for 58
WI now 2 for 306

It is, previous record 7 by IVA Richards (110* v England 1986)
Equal 8th most in a test innings (4 from the most by Wasim Akram v Zim)

[Media Park]

Gayle just hit his 8th six to go to 185
apparently it is the record for most 6s in an innings for WI
and just I am typing this, Bravo is out for 58
WI now 2 for 306

It is, previous record 7 by IVA Richards (110* v England 1986)
Equal 8th most in a test innings (4 from the most by Wasim Akram v Zim)

Was that when he scored his big 250-something?

[Media Park]

C Gayle 219 (247) not out, at Stumps.

[brod]

Gayle just hit his 8th six to go to 185
apparently it is the record for most 6s in an innings for WI
and just I am typing this, Bravo is out for 58
WI now 2 for 306

It is, previous record 7 by IVA Richards (110* v England 1986)
Equal 8th most in a test innings (4 from the most by Wasim Akram v Zim)

Was that when he scored his big 250-something?

Correct, 257*

[brod]

Gayles 200 in 221 balls makes it the 8th fastest (balls faced)..a long way from the 153 by Nathan Astle v England (on the postage size Christchirch oval..like playing on the small oval at Salaisbury North )

[Media Park]

Gayles 200 in 221 balls makes it the 8th fastest (balls faced)..a long way from the 153 by Nathan Astle v England (on the postage size Christchirch oval..like playing on the small oval at Salaisbury North )

You've obviously been on the receiving end at that particular oval then, Brod...?

153 balls is just ridiculous for Test cricket...

[brod]

Gayles 200 in 221 balls makes it the 8th fastest (balls faced)..a long way from the 153 by Nathan Astle v England (on the postage size Christchirch oval..like playing on the small oval at Salaisbury North )

You've obviously been on the receiving end at that particular oval then, Brod...?
153 balls is just ridiculous for Test cricket...

And how

[Jim05]

Ha gold. Played on salisbury north little oval about 15 years ago in 40 over one dayer. We chased down 310 with 9 overs to go!!!
Great innings by gayle would love to see the windies smash the lankans. Certainly differant look without the chucker