Wicketkeeper-batter Joshua DaSilva returns to the West Indies set-up after two years within the wilderness. Picture: AFP/File
LONDON:
After a rain-ruined ODI sequence and a hard-fought T20 sequence, West Indies and Sri Lanka renew their Check rivalry within the Caribbean on Thursday on the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
The 2 groups have very totally different goals, 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 12 months’s ultimate at Lord’s.
“Each Check sequence is a chance for us to develop as a crew and strengthen our identification,” West Indies head coach Daren Sammy stated in a Cricket West Indies assertion.
“Sri Lanka are a top quality facet, so we all know we’ll need to be at our greatest, however we’re excited in regards to the problem forward.”
Sammy is aware of that after a dreadful interval within the longest format, which sees West Indies 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 delight,” 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 residence sequence 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 competition for the showpiece event.
Each Assessments on this temporary duel are being performed on the similar venue the place these opponents performed out two attracts on placid surfaces in 2021.
The batters, although, are anticipated to be far more challenged than in that fast post-Covid marketing campaign with video games within the West Indies first-class season suggesting pitches that provide tempo, bounce and appreciable seam motion.
‘Take advantage of it’
Wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua da Silva, a fixture within the West Indies facet for 5 years earlier than he misplaced his place at the beginning of 2025, is about for a return, totally on the power of consecutive excellent home seasons with the bat.
“It’s been actually good coming again into the crew. I have been accepted and mingling with everybody like I’ve been right here for the final couple of years, so it seems like I’ve not been away for very lengthy,” stated the 28-year-old.
“I went again to top quality cricket, did what I needed to do, scored runs and received one other alternative, so I’m making an attempt to benefit from it.”
For all their current struggles, the West Indies have been typically properly served by their quick bowlers and with AlzarriJoseph returning to full health to associate Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph, the Sri Lankan high order can anticipate a looking out examination.
Not that they’re incapable of responding in sort.
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 publish the kind of totals which is able to give their bowlers an opportunity of reaching a first-ever Check sequence 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, KusalMendis (wicketkeeper), Sonal Dinusha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando.
