West Indies captain Chris Gayle works out during a training session yesterday, before today's one-day international against Sri Lanka at Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad. - Dellmar photo

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

AFTER THEIR outstanding Test-series levelling vic-tory, the West Indies are 'pumped up' for the Digicel one-day international (ODI) series against Sri Lanka, starting this morning at the Queen's Park Oval.

The two teams meet in the first of three matches in a series in which they will battle for bragging rights as the Test series did not produce a winner.

With Sri Lanka winning the first Test by 121 runs, the West Indies bounced back to be victorious in the second by six wickets on Sunday and host team captain, Chris Gayle, is optimistic that the good work will continue in the shorter matches.

'The guys are pretty pumped up, but, having said that, we can't be too overconfident," Gayle said during a training session yesterday.

'The preparation has been good. Hopefully, we can come up with the right formula for the team and then we can take it from there.'

The West Indies have an expanded 16-man squad to choose from.

From the 13 picked for the second Test, off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth has been omitted, but the four additions - Runako Morton, Patrick Browne, Darren Sammy and Kieron Pollard - have settled in well since joining up with the other players.

The West Indies won a relatively low-scoring Test match by six wickets, with the help of vital knocks from Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul during a run chase of 253. Gayle believes that runs on the board will be crucial in shaping the outcome of the series.

"The shorter version of the game always depends on the batting. Sarwan and Shiv are in a bit of form," Gayle said.

"Hopefully, we can put the runs on the board and try and restrict them if we bat first. The batting is going to be key for us and it will set the tone for the entire series."

2011 World Cup

Sri Lanka are using the series to prepare for the 2011 World Cup in Asia and have included seven new players who did not take part in the Test matches.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene said the intention was to give them international exposure ahead of the tournament, but they will still approach the series with a view to winning.

"We want to see how best we can prepare for the World Cup. It doesn't mean we are taking any of the one-days lightly. We are going to play our best team, but we are going to give certain guys a break as well," Jayawardene said.

"There is a lot of cricket being played these days. You can't have guys burning themselves out. While doing that, we are going to give some youngsters the experience which is required.

"We think these guys are going to take Sri Lanka's cricket forward. We will give them the experience."

fresh faces

The fresh faces to the limited-overs team are openers Upul Tharanga and Chamara Kapugedera, fellow batsmen Ajantha Mendis, Mahela Udawatte and Jehan Mubarak, all-rounder Kaushalya Weeraratne and legspinner Malinga Bandara.

Those returning home are openers Michael Vandort and Malinda Warnapura, fellow batsman Thilan Samaraweera, wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan, left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and fast bowler Chanaka Welegedara.

TEAMS (from):

WEST INDIES - Chris Gayle (captain), Sewnarine Chattergoon, Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-captain), Marlon Samuels, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Runako Morton, Dwayne Bravo, Patrick Browne, Denesh Ramdin, Sulieman Benn, Darren Sammy, Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell, Fidel Edwards, Devon Smith, Kieron Pollard

SRI LANKA - Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Upul Tharanga, Mahela Udawatte, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Chaminda Vaas, Malinga Bandara, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Ajanthe Mendis, Ihsara Amerasinghe Jehan Mubarak.