TWO men finding their way as team leaders go head-to-head when West Indies entertain Sri Lanka in the Celkon Mobile Tri-Nation One-Day International (ODI) series opener at Sabina Park in Jamaica today.
The exciting West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo took over from Darren Sammy as skipper of the ODI team ahead of the recent ICC Champions Trophy in England.Thanks to the fatal touch of the much-maligned Duckworth & Lewis method, the regional side returned home empty-handed after tying with South Africa in a rain-hit encounter which saw Kieron Pollard being dismissed off what turned out to be the last ball of their run-chase.At yesterday’s launch of the tournament — which also involves ICC World Cup 50-overs champions India — at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Bravo said the exit was a blow for the ambitions of the team.However, he urged the importance of building on the momentum gained since winning the World Twenty20 (T20) title last year.“There was disappointment but we take positives… out of England. I want the team to do well and go onto great things and make the people proud of the Caribbean team,” the 29-year-old said.Mathews, the 26-year-old all-rounder, became Sri Lanka’s youngest ever Test captain when he took charge in February of this year.His team, boosted by contributions of the ever-green batting pair of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, and the missile-launching pace bowler Lasith Malinga, reached the semi-final of the Champions Trophy before losing out to eventual winners India.Relative success withstanding, the near future provides a tricky challenge for Mathews. Whilst developing as an effective captain, he has to oversee Sri Lanka’s successful transition from over-dependence on the senior stalwarts.With India’s obvious prowess in ODI’s and the home advantage and the recent T20 conquest resting in West Indies’ favour, the Sri Lanka captain gladly accepts the tag of unlikely outsiders.Lauding the support he has received from young and old alike, he prefers to watch his team grow one step at a time.“They are the two current champions of T20 and the One-Dayers… we feel like we are the underdogs, but we have got the team to do well at this format and I’m pretty confident in my team.“I’m pretty happy to have the team that I have. I’m getting support from all the senior guys as well as the junior guys. I would like to take one game at a time and one series at a time… and play some good cricket,” Mathews explained.Under the guidance of head coach Ottis Gibson, the West Indies team, while struggling against top opposition in the longer format of the game, has been a far tougher nut to crack in 50-overs and T20 cricket, particularly on familiar turf.Bravo, while calling for consistency from his players, alluded to the home advantage and cautiously set his sights on coming out on top in the two-week tournament.“The goal is to try and get to the final and obviously to win, but everything is a process.“We can be good in this format… we want to get a winning culture back into the team. Get some consistency, some fight … I want to make sure the guys are up for it and at the end of the day make sure whatever the result, they give a 100 per cent,” Bravo said, while adding that the previously banned wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin should return to the starting eleven.Sri Lanka are without the injured batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan, but his absence aside, both squads are packed with first-choice players. The Asian team sports the batting calibre of Mathews, Upul Tharanga and Dinesh Chandimal to support Sangakkara and Jayawardene.The bowling boasts Malinga, his pace partner Nuwan Kulasekara and the wily spinner Ajantha Mendis, who though not so much of a mystery to other cricketing nations, is expected to get a start to continue his success against West Indies batsmen.Alot of eyes will also be trained on West Indies’ own mystery spinner Sunil Narine and a string of seamers, and the effect they will have on a Sabina Park surface which offered abundant help to both pace and slow bowlers in the domestic regional tournament.For the home team, the batting will rely on the aggressive Christopher Gayle, Johnson Charles, Kieron Pollard, Bravo and Marlon Samuels, who in particular, enjoyed great success against Malinga in the final of the T20 showpiece last year.Though Malinga did get some consolation during the Australian Big Bash when his bouncer nearly had a career-ending effect when it clipped Samuels bat and struck the player in his eye.Squads: West Indies — Dwayne Bravo (capt), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Christopher Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith.Sri Lanka — Angelo Mathews (capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Shaminda Eranga, Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Sachithra Senanayake, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne.Celkon Mobile’s executive director Murali Retineni (second left) is flanked (from left) by captains Dwayne Bravo of the West Indies, Mahendra Singh Dhoni of India and Angelo Mathews of Sri Lanka during yesterday’s official launch of the Celkon Mobile Tri-Nation ODI series at the Pegasus Hotel. (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS)West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle grips a catch during a practice session at the Sabina Park in Kingston yesterday. West Indies will face Sri Lanka in the first match of a Tri-Nation series involving India, too. (PHOTO: AFP)
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Windies begin tri-nation series against Sri Lanka at Sabina Park today
