After a rain barred drawn Test series, it was decided by management to postpone the three match one day series in January.

The postponed series will take place from January 31 to February 6. All the matches will be played at SSC Colombo which is not a venue for the World Cup matches. None of the three games will be played under lights.

The series due to the World Cup next month will be important for both sides and would mark their last outing before the grand tournament. The series will also give both teams to Test their World Cup squads. Both the team have named exactly the same squads for World Cup and the ODI series.

Sri Lanka are the clear favourites for the series but would be wary of the new look West Indies team. It is expected however that Sri Lanka will experiment in the series hoping to find the right combination for World Cup.

In the first ODI it is likely that Sri Lanka will play two of the three spinners in the squad which include Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and left arm Rangana Herath. The conditions are expected to be slow and low which would suit the Sri Lankan spinners.

However there is a breeze at SSC sometimes which can make Lasith Malinga Sri Lank's main weapon. Monday's encounter could be hardwork for the batsmen of both sides. Sri Lanka are without Sanath Jayasuria but have players like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan who can see off any bowling attack on their day.

Sangakkara, the Sri Lankan captain believes that his side holds psychological advantages over the Windies. Sri Lankan supporters would hope that their side can make that advantage count.

Sri Lanka have won four of their last five ODIs.

West Indies have a new captain in the form of Darren Sammy. Sammy's captaincy skills will be ideally put to Test in the series against Sri Lanka just before the World Cup. West Indies do look a unified team as Chris Gayle believes that the team has rallied around Sammy.

West Indian coach Ottis Gibson is rejoicing over the fact that his side will be the last team to play in subcontinent conditions before the World Cup. Gibson believes the series will be crucial in helping West Indies adapt to subcontinent conditions.

However, West Indies won't play any of their World Cup match in Sri Lanka. Decent performance in this series will build Windies' confidence and give them momentum for World Cup.

West Indies have lost all five of their recent ODIs.

Tag :- Chris Gayle   Mahela Jayawardene   Muttiah Muralitharan   Sanath Jayasuria   Sri Lanka   West Indies