1.   Ranatunga came to the crease shortly before lunch when star batsman Aravinda de Silva was dismissed for a golden duck.

2.   A loss will consign the reigning World Cup champions to also-rans in the series and they face a home side strengthened by the return of two star batsmen.

3.   A masterly century by star batsman Sachin Tendulkar helped India overwhelm Kenya by nine wickets and win the triangular cricket series finals at Eden Gardens on Sunday.

4.   Also just recovering are star batsman Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan as well as Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

5.   Among the injury-prone West Indies players is star batsman Brian Lara, who was injured in both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

6.   Captain Sourav Ganguly and star batsman Sachin Tendulkar will open the innings with Sehwag, Kaif, Yuvraj, Dravid and Dinesh Mongia taking the remaining middle order spots.

7.   Captain Sourav Ganguly and star batsman Tendulkar will open the innings with Sehwag, Kaif, Yuvraj and Dinesh Mongia claiming vital middle order spots.

8.   Everything then depended on their two star batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin, both of whom scored centuries in the first innings.

9.   Fast bowler Curtly Ambrose has a groin strain and star batsman Brian Lara and wicketkeeper Murray have hamstring injuries.

10.   Former West Indies captain and cricket legend Vivian Richards said star batsman Brian Lara will be key if the West Indies team is to improve its performance.