West Indies wary of young Sri Lanka challenge in first Test

Lennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer

West Indies head coach, Phil Simmons, says his team will have to be up for the challenge when they face off with Sri Lanka in the first Test, which bowls off on Sunday (tonight at 11:30 p.m. Jamaica time) in Sri Lanka.

Once again Galle will be the venue for the opening contest and memories have not been in favour of the visiting side, as the last time the West Indies played at the ground, they lost by an innings and six runs, to surrender the series two-nil.

“Facing Sri Lanka at home has always been a difficult task and it’s no different now. They have a younger team, but it’s going to be close to the team we had in the Caribbean, “said Simmons.

In that home series, opener Lahiru Thirimanne, who has opted out of this series, led all scorers in the two-Test matches with 240 runs in four innings.

Close behind him was West Indies captain, Kraigg Brathwaite, who scored 237 runs, including the highest score of the series, 126.

For Brathwaite, leading from the front will be key and it is a role that he is ready to play for the regional side.

"For me, I just want to lead from the front as the skipper and as the opening batsman. My job is always to build that foundation, so I look forward to leading with the bat and then on the field as the captain,” said Brathwaite.

The only other century makers in that home series were Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka (103) and West Indies’ Nkrumah Bonner (113 not out), and West Indies batting coach, Monty Desai, is hoping that the top order will come good and help to get a rare Test win in that country.

“In this series, we just want to build on some things that have been put in a place from the practice games in Antigua, which is getting the batters to occupy the crease longer and staying in their game plans longer. We also have to ensure that we bat 100-plus balls and if we can achieve that, I am expecting the top order to take a lot more responsibility and score runs for us," said Desai.

Both teams have equipped themselves well in the spin department, with the West Indies having Rahkeem Cornwall, Jomel Warrican and Veerasammy Permaul to call on, while the Sri Lankans will be banking on any of their four frontline spinners in Lakshan Sandakan, Ramesh Mendis, Praveen Jayawickrama and Lasith Embuldenia.

For Desai, the slower bowlers could very well decide the outcome of the series and it is a matter of who executes the best with the willow.

"The spin threat will be similar to Bangladesh, so the players will have to thrust their defence with close-in fields and they have to also be precise with their footwork."

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