West Indies cricketers arrive today

by Ranjan Anandappa

CRICKET: West Indies led by Darren Sammy will arrive in the Island this morning (Sunday) 8.30 am on a six weeks tour to play three Tests, five ODI’s and a T20 with their Sri Lankan counterparts.

Twenty-six-year-old Sammy will take over the reigns from hard hitting left hand batsman Chris Gayle of Jamaica who was in charge of the team since 2007. The West Indies Cricket Board has brought in Sammy in the bid of resuscitating West Indies cricket and rebuildING the destiny of the once mighty West Indies cricket. In the 1980s the West Indies won eleven consecutive Test matches. This will be Sammy’s first tour as the captain. He has played only eight Test matches and 43 ODIs and 19 T20 matches.

The tour begins with a three-day warm up match against a SLC President’s XI led by Thilan Samaraweera at the SSC grounds on November 10. The first Test begins at the Galle International Stadium on November 15 -19.

West Indies team: Darren Sammy (Captain), Brendon Nash (Vice Captain), Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh Jr, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Nelson Pascal, Kemer Roach, Andre Russell, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas.

The tour itinerary:

November 7 - arrival BIA 8.30 am. Nov. 10-12 - vs SLC President’s XI at SSC, Nov. 15-19 - 1st Test at Galle International Stadium, Nov. 23-27 - 2nd Test at R. Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo.

December 1-5 - 3rd Test Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy.

One day Internationals: Dec. 9 - 1st ODI Sri Lanka vs West Indies at Suriyawewa Stadium, Hambantota, Dec. 11 - 2nd ODI at Hambantota, Dec. 15 - 3rd ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium, Dec. 17 - 4th ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium, Dec. 19 - 5th at ODI R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Dec. 21 - T20 at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.

RA