WI vs SL: 1st Test, Preview- Sri Lanka aim for their maiden Test win in Trinidad

The Lankans will tour West Indies for a Test series after ten years.

Published - 05 Jun 2018, 23:09 IST | Updated - 05 Jun 2018, 23:09 IST

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Sri Lanka will play a three-match Test versus the Windies, the first of which starts tomorrow at the Queens Park Oval at Port of Spain in Trinidad. The Lankans are ranked sixth in the ICC Test Rankings while the hosts are languishing at the ninth position in the table. The teams have played quite a few limited-overs matches all this while and they need to switch gears in order to emerge victorious.

The Jason Holder-led team will play their first match in whites following their debacle last year in New Zealand. On the contrary, the Lankans had an impressive campaign previous time around. They played against Bangladesh in February and won the two-fixture series. Both teams didn’t have the greatest of times in Tests over the last couple of years and will be keen to reinstate their authority in the format.

The Dinesh Chandimal-captained team has had a decent outing in the practice match. Their batsmen were impressive and the bowlers followed it up with some resolute performance. This affair will be Sri Lanka’s first tour to the Windies since July 2018 where they lost their match in Trinidad. The Lankans will also be looking to win the maiden Test series in the country.

Teams:

Windies (Playing XI): Devon Smith, Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich(w), Jason Holder(c), Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal(c), Angelo Mathews, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Gamage, Lahiru Kumara

Toss: Windies have won the toss and have opted to bat

Team Combination

Windies

Devon Smith, who made a comeback after three years, may not be a part of the lineup. Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell are the openers. Shai Hope and Roston Chase need to shoulder the middle order. Shane Dowrich is the keeper and Jahmar Hamilton may not get his maiden Test. The lower order’s batting in Holder and Roach may turn out to be crucial.

The bowling lineup is a formidable one. The pace battery of Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach, Jason Holder are the experienced fast bowlers who need to take the onus of strangling the batsmen. Miguel Cummins is a newbie to Tests, but can be effective on his day. Devendra Bishoo is the lone spinner and it will be interesting as to how Holder uses him.

Sri Lanka

The opening pair of Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis did an excellent job in the warm-up match and they will open the batting. The experience of Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Matthews will be extremely crucial for Lanka’s chances in the match. Roshan Siva has been consistent for them and he will have his role to play. Niroshan Dickwella’s attacking style of play will be vital as well.

Moreover, the lower order consisting of Dilruwan Perera and Akila Dananjaya is not a pushover by any means. In the bowling lineup, Suranga Lakmal and Rangana Herath have to lead from the front. Matthews’ slow medium pace needs to come to the fore. The other spinners in Dananjaya and Dilruwan have to come to the party and lend support to their more seasoned partners.

Players to watch out for

Devendra Bishoo- Windies

The onus will be on Bishoo to shoulder the entire spin-bowling department. Moreover, spinners are the workhorses who can churn out plenty of overs. He may need to roll his arm over provided the pacers don’t make much of an impact and fail to pick up frequent wickets. Chandimal’s boys will be wary of his prowess with the leather.

Kusal Perera- Sri Lanka

Perera played a couple of fluent knocks in the practise match and didn’t shy away from going for his strokes. He notched a couple of fifties in the match and is in good stead ahead of the first Test. He has the ability to take the match away and the hosts will be aware of it. A quick start from the keeper-batsman is expected to put the skids under the Windies.