COLOMBO, May 31: Muttiah Muralitharan is relishing the prospect of renewing a personal duel with West Indies’ captain Brian Lara during Sri Lanka’s five-week tour of the Caribbean.

Sri Lanka left Colombo on Saturday morning with the off-spinner hopeful of winning the key battle against the Trinidadian left hander.

Lara dominated the last Test series between the two sides in 2001, plundering 688 runs at 114.66, the second highest aggregate ever in a three-Test series.

But Muralitharan proved the matchwinner with 24 wickets at 22.33 as Sri Lanka completed a 3-0 whitewash, although he dismissed Lara only twice.

“He is a great player and this time I want to win the battle against him,” said Muralitharan. “It’s always a challenge to bowl to him as he reads the wrist better than anyone else and he is willing to play all round the wicket.

“Without Shivnarine Chanderpaul (fractured finger), dismissing Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan will be the key to winning the series.”

Sri Lanka begin the tour with three One-day internationals in Barbados and St Vincent, starting on June 7, before two Tests in St Lucia and Jamaica.

The Sri Lankans failed to qualify for the final of a home tri-series earlier in the month but one-day skipper Marvan Atapattu is backing his top order to emerge from a prolonged slump in their batting form.

He has urged his players to trust their natural instincts and play with the natural flair that helped them win the 1996 World Cup.

“After our recent loss we have got to stand on our feet and play our natural game, which was the key to our earlier success,” said Atapattu.

“With expectations so high and things not going so well the players have tended to change their games in desperation but if there is any fear of failure then you won’t perform at your best.”

The team have undergone an intensive week of training including leadership seminars with a corporate motivational expert.

“The players have realised their weaknesses and I have not seen the boys work as hard for seven years,” said Atapattu.

Sri Lanka dropped middle order batsman Russel Arnold and all rounder Kaushalya Weereratne from their one-day squad, including 29-year-old left hander Naveed Nawaz and swing bowler Dinusha Fernando instead.

Test captain Hashan Tillekeratne and other Test specialists, who will be selected after a three-day practice match next week, will depart for the West Indies after the one-dayers.

Sri Lanka one-day squad: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Naveed Nawaz, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Dharshana Gamage, Prabath Nissanka, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Kumar Dharmasena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dinusha Fernando.

Itinerary:

June 4: v Shell Academy (St George’s, Grenada).

June 7: First One-day International (Bridgetown).

June 8: Second One-day International (Bridgetown).

June 11: Third One-day International (St Vincent).

June 14-16: v WICBC XI (St Vincent).

June 20-24: First Test (St Lucia).

June 27-July 1: Second Test (Kingston).—Reuters