BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC:
NEWLY APPOINTED West Indies captain Chris Gayle has admitted he is wary of the Sri Lanka's batting machine and the bowling threats of Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, as the five-match home series approaches later this month.
The West Indies will take on the Asian side in two Tests and three one-day internationals, starting on March 22 in Guyana. The tourists' batting will be led by captain Mahela Jayawardene while Muralitharan and Vaas are expected to spearhead the bowling.
"Those two (Muralitharan and Vaas) guys have been their [chief] wicket-takers in Test cricket - those two are challenges," Gayle told CMC Sports.
Most successful fast bowler
"You have the likes of (younger players in) Malinga (Lasith), those guys are playing international cricket now and getting a feel and getting more experienced and so forth playing overseas," he said. Vaas is Sri Lanka's most successful fast bowler, having claimed 331 wickets in 102 Tests with his skilful left-arm swing. Murali, the champion off-spinner, holds the record for the most wickets in Tests by any bowler with 723 wickets from 116 Tests.
Gayle underscored the strength of Sri Lanka's batting which included the likes of captain Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, both of whom average more than 50 in Tests.
"The batting line-up as well, Jayawardene the captain and Sangakkara is in terrific form, (along with) Dilshan (Tilla-karatne)," Gayle said.
Challenge and preparation
"You have to work really hard to score runs and actually get wickets against them. We are looking forward to the challenge and hopefully the preparation can be good going in against Sri Lanka as well," he said.
Gayle said he hoped his side could build on the South Africa tour and be fit and ready for the Sri Lankans.
"The build-up was very good in South Africa, but unfortunately a lot of injuries came into play and then guys had to sit out for whatever reason as well including myself, I sat out a number of games overseas," he noted.
"It's a new series now so hopefully we'll be strong and ready to go against Sri Lanka. We'll see what the selectors can come up with, (hopefully) the best possible 13 and see how well we can have the right combination going in against Sri Lanka."
