Sri Lanka build for future

Chamara Kapugedera gets an opportunity to impress in the one-day squad © Getty Images

Sri Lanka are planning to use the one-day series against West Indies as the start of their preparations for the 2011 World Cup.

The tourists have included seven new faces in their squad as they look to give their young players some much-needed international experience.

"There are a lot of youngsters. What we are trying to do is develop a team for the next World Cup," captain Mahela Jayawardene said.

Batsmen Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Ajantha Mendis, Mahela Udawatte and Jehan Mubarak, all-rounder Kaushalya Weeraratne and leg-spinner Malinga Bandara have all been named in the limited overs squad.

Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Thilan Samaraweera, Prasanna Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ishura Amerasinge and Chanaka Welegedara have returned to Sri Lanka.

Murali's absence is likely to be felt after he took 12 wickets over the two Tests.

Thilan Samaraweera has been sent back to Sri Lanka, despite his good form © Getty Images

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Jayawardene added: "We are going to try a few guys, some exciting youngsters. We want to compete against the West Indies and see where we are.

"It's going to be a very good series because West Indies is a very good one-day unit as well."

Two of those left out of the squad struck centuries in the Test series, Warnapura cracking 120 in the first and Samaraweera 125 in the second.

But the skipper said: "Test cricket and one-day cricket are totally different. You need to totally focus yourself on the one-dayers differently.

"We've got new guys coming into the set-up. Our challenge is to try and blend quickly as possible, get them going and play some good cricket. We're looking forward to it.

"Cricket is going to go on. Players will come and go. We just need to make sure we have the right combinations going.

"It is just two-and-a-half years away from the World Cup. We need to make sure we get the personnel right and give opportunities.

"If you are going to bring youngsters, those guys need to play at least 40 or 50 one-dayers before the World Cup."