Big picture
Cricket is back in the Caribbean. The last time Sri Lanka visited was for a three-match test series, which ended with both sides sharing the damage. The last time the West Indies hosted Sri Lanka for a limited two-sided series was back in 2008, while the most recent competition between the two sides took place in Sri Lanka, almost just a year back – a two-game T20I series, which West Indies swept comfortably. That was the last piece of cricket played one of those sides before Covid-19 stopped almost everything.
Since then, Sri Lanka have not fared as well in the limited cricket they have played. The test series of the case on England and South Africa, while not entirely unexpected, nevertheless exacerbated the gloom considering the nature of these losses.
Then there’s the little thing about Sri Lanka’s build-up to this series, which has been erratic to put in a calm. With several key players missing, either through injury or lack of game fitness after Covid-related time away from training, the number of experienced players in the squad can be counted with one hand. Meanwhile, their captain Dasun Shanaka, who was lucky enough to avoid any of these issues, misses the fact that he could not resolve his visa in time. And then there’s the question of the team’s fast bowling coach pulling out of the tour at eleven o’clock over a pay dispute – which the country’s sports minister has openly said would affect the top players youth on tour. And this is without even touching on the fact that Sri Lanka did not win a cricket match in the last year.
While the West Indies haven’t done better than that lately, their recently won Test series in Bangladesh will see them come in as easily as the more influential outfit – to indeed, the new faces in the Lankan line would do well in getting inspiration from the incompetent influence of their opponents with second – string clothing.
For both teams, however, with the 2021 T20 World Cup approaching, the series will serve as much to build confidence as it will to work out their best combination. .
Form Guide
West Indies: LLWWW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
Sri Lanka: LLLLL
In mind
Wanindu Hasaranga without a doubt the rising star of the Lanka Premier League was at the tail end of last year. Although its effectiveness in the recently decided Test series against England and South Africa has shown its shortcomings in its longest form, its impact in the most recent changes cannot be overstated. to prove shorter. He topped the wicket records by 17 at 1.29, while yielding less than a ball run, and scored all of his 127 runs at a strike rate of 160.75. With his footsteps and knocked down order, he is positioned as a real maids winner.
Chris Gayle he is back in the West Indies T20 establishment after nearly two years. In his two appearances for the Quetta Gladiators in the PSL earlier this month, Gayle looked close to what he did. He has since spoken out that he wants to help West India win another T20 World Cup, even if it means lowering the order. Even at the age of 41, Gayle is fit and committed as a crutch for almost any side.
Team news
Although several big names have gone out of the squad, much of the Sri Lanka team is still building itself up – although that means coach Mickey Arthur has some options in terms of taking time off for some of the young players. In the run up to the game he talked about the pitch that might support spinning, and with that in mind, Ramesh Mendis with his tired rides and ability with the bat could be a useful inclusion.
Sri Lanka (able): 1 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Oshada Fernando, 4 Dinesh Chandimal, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt), 6 Thisara Perera, 7 Ramesh Mendis, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Nuwan Pradeep, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Akila Dananjaya.
Oshane Thomas, Sheldon Cottrell and Shimron Hetmyer – all three played a key role in winning the West Indies T20I series in Sri Lanka last year, and all three lost out after failing a fitness test. This means memories for the likes of Fidel Edwards, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo and Gayle – all of whom experience in spades. With head coach Phil Simmons saying rotation would be kept to a minimum with one eye on the World Cup, spinners Akeal Hosein and Fabian Allen are likely to see the time of the game.
West Indies (able): 1 Lendl Simmons, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Chris Gayle, 4 Nicholas Pooran, 5 Kieron Pollard (capt), 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Fabian Allen, 8 Jason Holder, 9 Dwayne Bravo, 10 Akeal Hosein, 11 Fidel Edwards .
Park and conditions
The Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua is famous for its unobtrusive boundaries, meaning bowlers from all sides have to keep a close eye on their lines. The pitch itself is expected to take a bit of effort, matching both sides in preparation for a potentially similar surface at the T20 World Cup in India later this year.
Stats and trivia
- Chris Gayle last played T20I in March 2019. The West Indies have played 18 games since then.
- Sri Lanka won six of their first seven T20Is against the West Indies (losing just the 2012 World T20 final during this run). They have since lost all four of their last meetings.
- Sri Lanka has not won a game in a year. They have lost six games in that time: four Tests (two each to South Africa and England), and two T20Is against the West Indies in March 2020.
- The West Indies have won five and lost seven of their T20Is under Kieron Pollard.
Quotes
“It is an opportunity for some young players to step in, now that we are short of our regular players. I can’t wait to see those young boys out and get the job done, and show us what they have. The team confidence is excellent; the boys are just as good, they just get on and get the job done. “
Head coach of Sri Lanka Mickey Arthur supporting his young guard to put the chaotic line up behind them
“We’ll see what Chris Gayle did in his last IPL look. It shows that both with the stick and on the field, he looks happier and feels better and he’s still hitting the ball as we want to see it done.we saw Fidel in the last CPL and we have seen that he can still go over 90mph with his researchers. good to have them both with us. “West India head coach Phil Simmons supporting the returning veterans