After a rain-ruined ODI collection and a hard-fought T20 collection, West Indies and Sri Lanka renewed their Check rivalry within the Caribbean on Thursday on the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
The 2 groups have very totally different aims, with the hosts seeking to reignite their Check kind after shedding seven of eight matches performed within the present World Check Championship (WTC) cycle whereas Sri Lanka, who lie third, will wish to press their claims for a spot in subsequent yr’s remaining at Lord’s.
“Each Check collection is a chance for us to develop as a crew and strengthen our id,” West Indies head coach Daren Sammy mentioned in a Cricket West Indies assertion.
“Sri Lanka are a top quality aspect, so we all know we’ll need to be at our greatest, however we’re excited concerning the problem forward.”
Sammy is aware of that after a horrible interval within the longest format, which sees West Indies on the backside of the nine-team WTC desk, credentials are on the road.
“For us, it is about enjoying with self-discipline, displaying character when the sport will get robust, and representing the West Indies with satisfaction,” he added.
Sri Lanka’s third place within the WTC, behind former champions Australia and title-holders South Africa, is considerably deceptive, nonetheless, due solely to a 1-0 dwelling collection success over Bangladesh 12 months in the past.
Dhananjaya de Silva’s crew might want to keep on the successful monitor in opposition to the West Indies if they’re to stay in rivalry for the showpiece event.
Each Checks on this temporary duel are being performed on the identical venue the place these opponents performed out two attracts on placid surfaces in 2021.
The batters, although, are anticipated to be rather more challenged than in that rapid post-Covid marketing campaign with video games within the West Indies first-class season suggesting pitches that supply tempo, bounce and appreciable seam motion.
‘Profit from it’
Wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua da Silva, a fixture within the West Indies aspect for 5 years earlier than he misplaced his place at first of 2025, is about for a return, totally on the power of consecutive excellent home seasons with the bat.
“It has been actually good coming again into the crew. I have been accepted and mingling with everybody like I have been right here for the final couple of years, so it appears like I have not been away for very lengthy,” mentioned the 28-year-old.
“I went again to top notch cricket, did what I needed to do, scored runs and obtained one other alternative, so I am making an attempt to benefit from it.”
For all their latest struggles, the West Indies have been typically nicely served by their quick bowlers and with Alzarri Joseph returning to full health to associate Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph, the Sri Lankan high order can count on a looking out examination.
Not that they’re incapable of responding in type.
Whereas their quickest bowler, Dushmantha Chameera, is seemingly being preserved for the white ball codecs, within the two Fernandos, Vishwa and Asitha, the guests have bowlers eminently able to extracting any help from useful surfaces.
Sri Lanka’s batting is once more constructed across the skilled trio of skipper de Silva, former captain Dinesh Chandimal and the in-form Pathum Nissanka as they search to submit the kind of totals which is able to give their bowlers an opportunity of attaining a first-ever Check collection triumph within the Caribbean.
Groups (possible):
West Indies: Roston Chase (captain), John Campbell, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Justin Greaves, Joshua da Silva (wicketkeeper), Alzarri Joseph, Jomel Warrican, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales
Sri Lanka: Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper), Sonal Dinusha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando.
