Having dominated the white-ball series against Sri Lanka, the Kraigg Brathwaite-led West Indies team would be brimming with confidence going into the first Test match, especially after a series win in Bangladesh.
The Windies will lock horns with Sri Lanka today (Sunday March 21) from 10:00h at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.
Sri Lanka Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne
Despite all the confidence in the camp, West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons has said there is room for improvement and his team would be aiming to score at least 400 runs in their first innings.
“I think we need to improve in every area. I think we had a good series [in Bangladesh] but there are lots of things you need to keep improving on,” Simmons said.
He added: “We need to make sure we’re getting 400 in the first innings, which is something we’re striving for every time we play, and then we have to bowl and bat even better than we did in Bangladesh. So, every area needs to be improved on, and that’s how we’re looking at it.”
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite
These two Tests would present opportunity not only for West Indies to complete an entire series domination, but to also win their first Test series against Sri Lanka in nearly two decades.
“The atmosphere has been great all through in all two formats so far, and everybody is looking forward to success and everybody is looking forward to doing what is necessary for success….”
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne has said the West Indies have a good pace attack, and the pitch looks difficult. Sri Lanka have struggled with the bat in their last four Tests, failing to make 200 in four of their eight innings.
“The West Indies’ pace attack is a really good one, and they know how to move the Dukes ball,” Karunaratne said. “We think we need at least 275 or 300 runs to stay in the series. That’s not easy, but we’ve talked about how we can do that. If we can get that kind of score on the board, our fast bowlers can defend it, and we’ll be in the game,” the Sri Lankan skipper said before the match.
Heading into the first Test, Sri Lanka might be in a spot of bother, since they had a modest batting performance in the two-day practice game, wherein they were all out for 172 inside 50 overs. Only Oshada Fernando and Dinesh Chandimal managed scores of 40 or higher in that game.
West Indies squad: Kraigg Brathwaite, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican.
Sri Lanka Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Wanindu Hasaranga, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, Roshen Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Ramesh Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Lasith Embuldeniya, Pathum Nissanka.
