Ganga hopes to prove a point

Daren Ganga, the captain of the West Indies A team, said that it would be a great psychological boost for his senior side if the A team could perform well and beat Sri Lanka A in the upcoming 'Test' and one-day series.

"I am sure it is going to give our senior side a lot of confidence if we can come out on top of the series against Sri Lanka A," said Ganga at a press conference held at Sri Lanka Cricket headquarters yesterday soon after the West Indies A team arrived for a month long tour.

"The fact that some of the players will be considered for selection to the senior team on their performances in the series is a motivation for us to do well as a team," said Ganga. "Doing well here is going to do you a whole lot of good to your career. Every single player in this team is on the fringe of playing for West Indies, some have already done so."

The senior West Indies team, led by Shivnarine Chanderpaul, is expected to arrive on July 1 to play two Tests and take part in a seven-match one-day triangular with Sri Lanka and India.

"Five to seven guys have been here before with the senior team. Some like Jermaine Lawson have been here with the Under-19 World Cup side. We have spoken already of what we are going to encounter and we have worked out ways of dealing with the Sri Lankan opposition. We are quite aware that it is not going to be easy," said Ganga. "The Sri Lanka A team is playing at home and they have got a nice blend of experience and youth. It is going to be a challenge for us to put our best foot forward. I am sure that when the series is over we'll come out on top."

Ganga said the team was selected on performance in the Caribbean first-class competition and comprised ten Test players and three who had appeared in one-day internationals. "It is a very experienced and emerging team," said Ganga, a 26-year-old right-handed opener who has played in 31 Tests and 28 one-day internationals for West Indies.

"These young players have been given the opportunity to impress the West Indian selectors. Knowing that the West Indies senior side will be here for a full tour, all the members of our team are looking forward to do well," said Ganga. "They want to impress the selectors and come July when the team is finalised they will want to be in the senior side. It is a very important tour for all of us."

Russel Arnold, the captain of the Sri Lanka A team, said that although their preparations had been hampered by bad weather his team was "really fit" and looking forward to taking on the West Indies in the contests ahead.

"There are a few West Indies players who have played here before like Daren Ganga, Marlon Samuels. We do know some of the players. There are a few newcomers also as time goes by we will get to know them better," said Arnold. "We have always wanted to represent the national team. That is the end result we want from A series. This is a very good opportunity for me to really impress the selectors. I am very happy with my form and the way things have been going in the past few months. I am looking forward to going out there and getting a few good scores behind me."

The first of three four-day unofficial Tests starts on Thursday at Dambulla. The second Test is scheduled to begin on June 28 at Colts grounds and the third starts on July 5 at the Saravanamuttu Stadium. Five one-day limited-over matches will follow this series from July 11-19.