The Sri Lankan players had a good outing against a West Indies – XI in their only tour game, with most batsmen getting amongst the runs while the bowlers had a decent workout in West Indian conditions.
Read: Malinda Warnapura’s moment in Sri Lanka’s only Test win in the Caribbean
The last time these two teams, met Sri Lanka recorded a crushing 2-0 series win at home in 2015, but it has been almost 10 years since Sri Lanka last played in the Caribbean. Sri Lanka did record their only Test win in the West Indies in that series but West Indies hit back to square the series at 1-1 to make sure Sri Lanka are yet to win a Test series in the Caribbean.
Not long back, the West Indies-Sri Lanka series was in quandary after reports emerged that one of the three Tests could be scrapped in exchange of an ODI series. However, that seems to have been resolved with three Tests to go on as per the original schedule.
West Indies meanwhile haven’t played any Test cricket since the 12th of December 2017 and have had a tough time with red ball cricket during the past few years.
There is also plenty at stake for both teams with the ranking points up for grabs and a scoreline of 2-0 or better in the series could help West Indies overtake Bangladesh, while pulling Sri Lanka down from 6th to 7th position. If Sri Lanka are able to pull off a 3-0 series win they will be equal along with England for the fifth place with 97 points.
Series scenarios:
Sri Lanka win 3-0 – Sri Lanka 97 points, Windies 64
Sri Lanka win 2-0 – Sri Lanka 95, Windies 66
Sri Lanka win 1-0 – Sri Lanka 94, Windies 68
Drawn series – Sri Lanka 91, Windies 72
Windies win 1-0 – Sri Lanka 88, Windies 75
Windies win 2-0 – Sri Lanka 87, Windies 77
Windies win 3-0 – Sri Lanka 85, Windies 79
ICC Test rankings:
1 India 125
2 South Africa 112
3 Australia 106
4 New Zealand 102
5 England 97 (-1)
6 Sri Lanka 94
7 Pakistan 88 (+1)
8 Bangladesh 75
9 Windies 67
10 Zimbabwe 2
Also played: Ireland – 1 match, 0 points
Yet to play their first Test: Afghanistan.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka have been an improved Test team ever since their 0-3 home drubbing by India in 2017. They inflicted a 2-0 series win on Pakistan who hadn’t lost in the UAE until then, before going down 0-1, a respectable result, in a 3 match Test series against India in India. They followed it up with a 1-0 series win at home over Bangladesh and will be oozing with confidence to record their first ever series win in the Caribbean.
Sri Lanka seemed a much settled Test unit after the resurgence of some of their young batsmen but they were dealt with an unexpected blow ahead of their departure to the West Indies when Dhananjaya de Silva stayed back after the sudden loss of his father. He has now joined the squad in the West Indies but it is highly unlikely that he will feature in the 1st Test match and will be a big blow for Sri Lanka after his impressive performances against India and Bangladesh.
Read: Dhananjaya de Silva to join squad in West Indies
Angelo Mathews is finally fit and will slot into the playing XI along with Kusal Perera who is making a return to the Test team after a lengthy period and will most likely bat at the top of the order. The Sri Lankan selectors will have a tough choice to make with all the batsman in good form ; which is not the worse problem to have after all.
Regular Test opener Dimuth Karunaratne will not feature in this series after he fractured his index finger ahead of the tour and the two Kusal’s – Mendis & Perera – are set to open the innings for Sri Lanka. Skipper Dinesh Chandimal will bat at number three at least in the first Test, with Dhananjaya de Silva unlikely to feature after his late arrival. Mathews is set to bat at the number four position and Roshen Silva who is averaging over 100 after three Tests will slot in at number five.
The entertaining wicket batsman Niroshan Dickwella is likely to bat at number six and Sri Lanka are set to go into the first Test with five bowlers meaning there is no space for Mahela Udawatte who is the other remaining specialist batsman on tour.
Suranga Lakmal is fit again and will lead the pace attack and Lahiru Kumara should get the nod after an impressive outing in the tour game. Rangana Herath will be the go-to man in the spin department and it will be interesting to see who Sri Lanka goes with to complete the remaining two bowling spots.
Probably XI : Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal(c), Angelo Mathews, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella(wk), Dilruwan Perera/Akila Dananjaya, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando/Kasun Rajitha/Lahiru Gamage
West Indies
West Indies have only beaten Zimbabwe in a Test series since September 2014 and will be up against it, with batting seeming to be their biggest worry.
Left-handed batsman Devon Smith made a surprise return from the wilderness after three years, as Cricket West Indies recalled him to a 13-man squad for the Sri Lanka Tests. The Grenadian batsman earned the call-up, riding on his performances in the Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament. His 1095 runs, scored at an average of 84.23 and including six centuries, were the most by any individual in the competition.
Read More: West Indies vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2018 – Let’s talk Numbers
Kraigg Brathwaite has been a consistent performer and he will need to lead them with the bat along with Shai Hope who has showed plenty of promise during his brief career. Kieran Powell is an experienced campaigner considering the resources available for the hosts and showed good form during the warm-up match.
Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach make up a formidable pace attack along with Miguel Cummins and Jason Holder for support, while Devendra Bishoo and Roston Chase will share the spin bowling duties for West Indies.
Probable XI: Devon Smith, Kraig Brathwaite Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Jason Holder(c), Shane Dowrich(wk), Kemar Roach, Devendra Bishoo, Shannon Gabriel, Miguel Cummins
Final say
Sri Lanka are expected to win this series though they haven’t won a series in the West Indies during their past visits ; however they have to be vary of the West Indian pace attack.
Sri Lanka would love to see their youngsters step up, especially with the ball as they have struggled to take 20 wickets to win a Test match in the recent past, while on the other hand West Indies would love to spring a surprise with a good start to the series at Port of Spain.
