http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758
With two of the three test matches out of the way, the West Indian selection committee has come up with a squad for the limited overs format of the game.
The West Indians are set to play the hosts, Sri Lanka, in a series of five ODIs and one Twenty20. This part of the tour is the build up to the limited overs edition World Cup that is to take place in Asia
in February, next year.
The opening match of the series will be held at the brand new venue of Hambantota on the 9th of December.
Hambantota is set to host some matches of the World cup. Hence, besides hosting the opening match, the venue will also undergo a survey of its facilities before the start of the premier ICC tournament, which
is also known as the flagship event of the governing body of the game.
On the other hand, the Caribbean squad comprises of most of the players that would get the nod for the World Cup. However, there is competition still left for a few places. Therefore, the fringe players would
be keen on impressing the selectors by proving their worth in sub-continental conditions.
The West Indian selector on tour is the former wicket-keeper/batsman Courtney Browne. He claimed that the ongoing series was very important for next year’s build up and the players that have been given the
chance to represent their country should give it their all.
"These are the last ODIs before the World Cup, so we expect the players to make the most of the opportunities."
The squad includes a newcomer in Kirk Edwards, an attacking batsman from the fertile land of Barbados. The island has produced some of the greats of the game and the rookie would be hoping that he makes a
good contribution and cements his spot.
He was part of the West Indies A side that took on the reserve strength from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, in their just concluded series.
Darren Sammy, who has done an admirable job at the helm of the West Indian team in the first two tests, has got the nod to captain the team in the limited overs format also.
He would be banking on the likes of Chris Gayle to help him score some runs at the top of the innings with his cavalier approach. The former captain was in belligerent touch as he underlined his ability by
smashing a triple hundred in the first test at Galle.
The ODI squad also boasts of other big hitting talent in the shape of Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Devon Smith and Sammy himself. The West Indian fans have pinned their hopes on Pollard, who has already
established himself as one of the cleanest hitters of a cricket ball in the international arena.
The experienced middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul remains the cornerstone of West Indian batting, particularly when the chips are down, as he is the one who bails the team out of trouble generally
with his dogged approach.
The pace bowling department would be served by Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach and new comer Andre Russel, who has impressed in the test series thus far, while lanky Suliemann Benn would be the main spinner in
the ranks.
Wicket keeper Carlton Baugh, who scored a fifty in the second test at Colombo, would also be keen on furthering his credentials in the ODIs and T20s.
West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (capt), http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shivnarine-Chanderpaul-c90073, Kirk Edwards, Chris Gayle, Nikita Miller, Kieron
Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Russell-c87177, Devon Smith
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