The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Sri Lanka's 150th Test from today

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Wednesday, Jul 13, 2005

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Sri Lanka's 150th Test from today

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's game against the West Indies on Wednesday will be the South Asian country's 150th Test, but a boycott by several top players from the visiting side has robbed the event of some of its sparkle.

The West Indies is expected to field six new players in the match at Colombo's Singhalese Sports Club. Star batsman Brian Lara is among those who stayed home in the Caribbean islands as part of a long-running dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and the players' association.

Expressing disappointment at the strength of the West Indies side, Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu said his team wanted to start the two-Test series with a victory.

"We'll try to play as well as we can," Atapattu said.

"It doesn't matter whether it's the first or the 150th Test, we will give it our best shot," he said.

This Test will be Sri Lanka's first under new Australian coach, Tom Moody. Skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul said several of his players were laid low by the illness, but were expected to be fit for the Test's opening.

Fast bowlers Tino Best and Jermaine Lawson were bowling in the practice nets on Monday.

Best and Lawson are expected to share the pace attack with uncapped Daren Powell.

The teams: Sri Lanka (from): Marvan Atapattu (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Thilan Samarweera, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, Jayan Wijekoon, Russel Arnold and Ranganth Herath.

West Indies (from): Shivnarine Chanderpaul (captain), Ryan Ramdass, Xavier Marshall, Sylvester Joseph, Narsingh Deonarine, Dwayne Smith, Runako Morton, Denesh Ramdin, Omari Banks, Tino Best, Jermaine Lawson, Daren Powell, Kerry Jeremy and Deighton Butler.

Umpires: Simon Taufel (Australia) and Nadeem Ghauri (Pakistan). — AP

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