Rain condemns Windies to indoor nets

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – Not a ball was bowled in the tour match between Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XI and West Indies yesterday due to rain.

SLC President’s XI were set to resume on 59 for three, replying to West Indies’ first innings total of 176, on the second day of the three-day match at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Heavy overnight and early morning left the outfield flooded, and condemned the visitors to the indoor nets to continue their preparations ahead of the three-Test series against the hosts’ national team.

“There is nothing we can do about the rain,” said West Indies coach Ottis Gibson. “We understand that we have no control over the weather, so we have to make the best use of the time we have.”

He added: “We did not bat very well [on Wednesday], but at least we got some batting. It does not look as if we will get anymore play in this match, so [that] now becomes the only preparation we will have before the Test series.”

Gibson indicated that the wash-out only emphasised the need for training camps – like the one staged in Barbados prior to the trip.

“What this means is that the week-long camp we had in Barbados worked out very well for us, since we got a lot of work done,” he said.

“[On Thursday] we took care of the physical side of things, and I’m very pleased with the way the players are working.”

He said: “If we can’t play, we will go to the gym, go to the indoor nets, do video analysis, and take care of areas that are important at this level of international sport.

“The guys have to believe in themselves, and believe in their ability as we go into the first Test. We just have to get on with it, and get ourselves ready to face Sri Lanka.”

On the opening day, West Indies made a timid start to the tour of Sri Lanka, suffering an all-too-familiar batting collapse.
West Indies vice-captain Brendan Nash top-scored with 62