Windies vs Sri Lanka 2018, 1st Test - Preview

Windies Cricket team will square off against the visiting Sri Lanka team in the first of the three-match Test series starting on Wednesday at Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Meanwhile, since their last Test and the upcoming one against Sri Lanka, Windies have played ten ODIs and seven T20Is. This period saw them fighting out for a spot in next year’s 50-over World Cup in England.

Windies selectors have called back Davon Smith to play at the highest level. Smith returns to Test cricket after a three-year-long hiatus, riding on his superlative performance in the regional four-day tournament. Also in the 13-member squad is Jahmar Hamilton, who gets his closest shave with the maroon cap after being in the first-class circuit for the past ten years.

Windies, however, are only above Zimbabwe in the Test rankings and to revive their fortune, they have made some bold changes. They have dropped their experienced wicket-keeper batsman Denesh Ramdin for the Test series. Amid all this, it will be their skipper Jason Holder, who seems to be one among the few constants that the team can look forward to.

The host will seek batting solidarity from opener Kraig Braithwaite, the only batsman who did well in New Zealand.

All eyes would be on Smith as well, and the daggers will be out if he doesn’t justify the selection. Bowling responsibilities will fall on the shoulders of Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, and Miguel Cummins again.

But above all, it would be interesting to see how Holder leads them, from ignominy to some promise of sorts.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka will play a Test in the Caribbean Island after ten years. They will be delighted to have a fit Angelo Matthews back in the squad. Moreover, with all their batting scoring some runs in the practice match, they will be high on confidence.

Both spinners, Akila Dananjaya and Dilruwan Perera, got three wickets apiece, which should serve as a soothing balm, given Rangana Herath is likely to play only two of the three Tests, much like Suranga Lakmal, as a part of Sri Lanka’s workload management.

The tourists though will heavily miss the injured opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne.

When: Windies vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test, June 6-10, 14:00 GMT, 7.30 PM IST

Where: Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad

Squad

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

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal(c), Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Gamage, Akila Dananjaya, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Mahela Udawatte, Angelo Mathews, Jeffrey Vandersay, Kasun Rajitha, Asitha Fernando

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