Lowly Windies gear up to face Lankans

NAIROBI, October 3: Having smashed all that was being bowled at him in the nets, Brian Lara was still grim after his batting stint. He sat...

NAIROBI, October 3: Having smashed all that was being bowled at him in the nets, Brian Lara was still grim after his batting stint. He sat on a chair for a while, put his pads off, packed his kit and said: “No man, they are no good. We need Curtly (Ambrose) and Courtney (Walsh).” Apart from a first-hand look at the ordinary bowling resources, Lara wished both Ambrose and Walsh were here for another reason. “They would have pepped up the side.”

He is right. Missing is the big laugh and the jig as one watches the insecure-looking youngsters all around the West Indian dressing room. “Both Curtly and Courteny would have loved to bowl on this wicket (Nairobi Gymkahana). But, what can we do? It’s their decision (Ambrose has retired while Walsh pulled out of the Cup) and we respect that. It’s difficult without them but the wheel has to move.

“Hope, the newcomers follow what Curtly and Courtney taught them,” skipper Jimmy Adams was forthright on the eve of their pre-quarterfinal clash with Sri Lanka. Adams wishes he were as lucky as his Lankan counterpart Sanath Jayasuriya. The Lankans have been so well propped up by youngsters, the team can afford to do without seniors Arjuna Ranatunga, who announced his retirement after the series against South Africa and Aravinda de Silva, losing out on a slot in the team.

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That’s the tale of the two teams. On one side are the West Indians, a mighty fall from the days of grace, still waiting for a Godot while on the other side of the spectrum the Lankans Russel Arnolds, Mahela Jayawardenas and Kumar Sangakkaras are already like tigers on the prowl.

The Lankan batting is still as daring and refreshing as it was when they won the World Cup in ’96 but it’s a much-improved bowling which makes them a difficult side to beat these days. From a Chaminda Vaas-Muthiah Muralitharan bowling line up, they add more punch now with Nuwan Zoysa and a couple of on-the-spot slow bowlers.

The West Indian hopes rest with one man Lara. He may not be the same old Lara who once wielded his bat like a prized sword but on a given day, he still has the class to walk away with the game. The maroon caps hope tomorrow (Wednesday) turns out to be that day.

The teams (from) West Indies: Jimmy Adams (Capt), Sherwin Campbell, Wavell Hinds, Brian Lara, Slyvester Joseph, Courtney Browne, Nixon McLean, Mervyn Dillon, Laurie Williams, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Azeemul Haneef, Marlon Samuels, Colin Stuart and Kerry Jeremy.

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Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Aviska Gunawardena, Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Russle Arnold, Kumara Dharmasena, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Muthiah Muralitharan, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Pramodaya Wickremasinghe and Eric Upahantha.

Hours of Play (IST): 12.15 p.m onwards. Umpires: Srinivas Venkatraghavan and Peter Willey.

Third Umpire: David Shepherd.