Sanga bemoans ‘topsy turvy’ weather

KANDY, (Reuters) - Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara called for cricket officials to analyse weather patterns thoroughly before hosting test matches after the third and final test against West Indies ended in a tame draw at the Pallakele Stadium on Sunday.

The three-test series, which was dogged by rain, ended in a 0-0 result with the first two tests at Galle and Colombo also drawn.

“It will be nice to see if we can make sure the weather patterns and all of these things are properly analysed. But it is tough these days; the weather’s all topsy turvy,” said Sangakkara.

“It’s probably the worst test series I’ve ever experienced. I’ve never seen anything like this before. It was pretty frustrating to sit in the dressing-room and watch the rain. “It would have been nice to see if we had alternative venues as well to see if one failed and the weather was not great and the preparations not great, we could have gone somewhere else.

“But from the reports I hear that it is raining everywhere. I don’t know how feasible that would have been. But it’s always nice to have something as a back-up.”

Only 103.3 overs were bowled in the entire test and West Indies scored 303-8.

The bad weather enabled West Indies to draw a test series in Sri Lanka for the first time. The two previous series played in 2001 and 2005 had ended in 3-0 and 2-0 defeats.

“When we left West Indies we said we would settle for a draw or a win. We have lot of positives after the test series and we are looking to build for the future,” said West Indies captain Darren Sammy.

“Despite the weather, which has been totally out of our control, the one test match where we had five days of cricket (at Galle) we basically dominated.

“We are looking forward for the one-day series. Sri Lanka is coming after a series win in Australia for the first time. It’s another opportunity for us to show what we are capable of doing.”

The five-match ODI series starts on Thursday at the new stadium in Hambantota.

Herath, Mendis included for first two West Indies ODIs

Muttiah Muralitharan has been rested from the Sri Lankan side for the first two one-dayers of the upcoming five-match series against West Indies. Rangana Herath, who has impressed in the Test matches, has taken Murali’s place for the games that will be held at the new stadium in Hambantota.

Dinesh Chandimal and Dammika Prasad, who were a part of the squad for the successful one-day series in Australia, were left out of the side. Thilan Samaraweera took the batting spot vacated by Chandimal, while Ajantha Mendis was included as an extra spinner.

The last three games will be played at the newly renovated R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo which, along with Hambantota and Pallekele, will host matches in the 2011 World Cup.

Squad: Kumar Sangakkara (capt & wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Angelo Mathews, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedara, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thisara Perera, Dilhara Fernando, Chamara Silva, Jeevan Mendis. (Source: CricInfo)