West Indies tour of Sri Lanka 1991/2 - Tour Preview

West Indies have named the following squad for their 2 Test and 3 ODI tour of Sri Lanka in August 1991/2:

D.L.Haynes
P.V.Simmons RM
C.B.Lambert
C.A.Best

B.C.Lara
R.B.Richardson (c)
J.C.Adams SLA
C.L.Hooper OB
A.L.Logie

D.Williams (wk)
J.R.Murray (wk)

R.A.Harper OB

W.K.M.Benjamin RF
M.D.Marshall RF
C.E.L.Ambrose RF
C.A.Walsh RF
I.R.Bishop RF
B.P.Patterson RF
K.C.G.Benjamin RF

The West Indies are still unbeaten in a Test series since the 1979/80 tour of New Zealand, their dominance now stretching to 12 years without losing a series.
However, after a 2-2 result in the 1991 series in England, cracks are beginning to show.
The squad is packed with 7 genuine Fast bowlers, and this should their traditional major strength, ensuring the Sri Lankan top order should have a tough time of it against the new ball.
Roger Harper is the sole specialist spinner in the squad, but with a Test bowling average of 28, won't let anyone down if picked.
His main spin backup should come from the offspin off allrounder C.L.Hooper.
The batting looks slightly fragile after the retirement of C.G.Greenidge, I.V.A.Richards, and P.J.L.Dujon in recent times, but D.L.Haynes, B.C.Lara, and captain R.B.Richardson are all capable of heavy run scoring.
D.Williams the keeper is yet to cement his position and must fend off a challenge from the younger J.R.Murray.

The Sri Lankans meanwhile play well at home, particularly in ODIs, and the conditions generally suit their spin attack, so this could prove a closer series than expected.
P.A.de Silva is expected to lead the batting with A.P.Gurusinha, while S.D.Anurasiri is expected to take on a heavy workload with the ball.
Young batsmen like M.S.Atapattua, H.P.Tillekeratne, and S.T.Jayasuriya so far have shown promise at Test level, but not the required level of consistency, so this is an important time for them.
A.Ranatunga is struggling with fitness issues and the Sri Lankan Board was not happy with him around this time. He has been replacd as captain by P.A.de Silva and the Sri Lankan manager has not named him in his provisional Test squad for the series, so his future is under a cloud just a few months out from the World Cup.

Arjuna Ranatunga, under a fitness cloud and dumped as Captain, will be make the World Cup Squad?