COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CMC) - The West Indies women arrived here Saturday for their five-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka and go into action quickly in a warm-up match today.

Under the guidance of coach Sherwin Campbell, West Indies will tackle a top Sri Lanka Women's Division One club side at the BRC Ground as a tune-up for the opening ODI on Wednesday at Rangiri Dambulla Stadium.

The Caribbean girls had their five-day camp in Barbados last week hampered by rainy weather but they worked hard in the time allowed and they are using this series as vital preparation for World Cup and World Twenty20 assignments next year.

"This tour is part of the preparation for the bigger assignments," said Campbell, the former West Indies opening batsman.

"We are expecting a tough tour. We have talented players who are committed and I believe we will do well," Campbell has said of the two-week trip here.

West Indies women's cricket is rebuilding with a cluster of new, young players, who did very on a tour of Europe earlier this year.

They posted a winning (9-0) record during tours of Ireland and the Netherlands before losing to top-rated England.
All-rounders Shanel Daley and Erva Giddings are newcomers in the squad for this tour.

Jamaican Daley and Giddings, from Guyana, were standouts in the West Indies Women's Championship in St Lucia in August.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines pacer Phernel Charles makes a return to the set up for the first time in almost eight years.

West Indies will be one of eight teams contesting the International Cricket Council's Women's World Cup 2009 to be played in Australia in March and the Caribbean side will also play in the ICC Women's World Twenty20 Championship next June in England.

West Indies will play the first three ODIs against Sri Lanka Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and tackle the hosts in the remaining games next week Tuesday and Wednesday.
Their proposed tour of Pakistan, which should have been a precursor to the Sri Lanka trip, was cancelled because of safety fears in troubled Pakistan.

Also with the squad are Carol Whilby-Maxwell (manager), Jacqui King-Mowatt (Physio), and Shannon Lashley (Strength and Conditioning Coach).

SQUAD - Nadine George (captain), Kirbyina Alexander (vice-captain), Merissa Aguilleira, Phernel Charles, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Erva Giddings, Stacy-Ann King, Anisa Mohammed, Juliana Nero, Danielle Small, Charlene Taitt, Stafanie Taylor.

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