West Indies are set for a tour of Sri Lanka, who will host the Caribbean nation for two Test matches, three ODIs and two T20Is in October and November.
The series starts with both the island nations' dressed in white clothing for an intriguing Test series, which starts on Wednesday at the Galle international stadium. The second Test match has been scheduled at the P Sara Oval in Colombo, starting on 22 October.
Both the pitches in the first and second Test are expected to produce turn, hence the spinners are going to be the key for the respective teams. Sri Lanka, who are solid performers at home, have not been at their best on their home turf as they have suffered defeats to Pakistan and India in their last two series.
Such results will encourage the visitors, while the home team will be eager to avoid their third straight Test series defeat, when they face West Indies, who are going to be led by Jason Holder.
West Indies do not resemble an experienced side with players such as Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Jermaine Blackwood and Jomel Warrican yet to make their mark in international cricket.
Hence the more experienced ones like Holder, Darren Bravo, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels and Jerome Taylor need to take up the responsibility and help the team come up with a good performance in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka have made a few changes to their squad, as they have roped in youngster Milinda Siriwardana and wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Mendis. Sri Lanka, who start the series as favourites, have players such as Angelo Mathews and Rangana Herath, who can play an important part in the Test series.
After the conclusion of the two-match Test series, both teams will gear up for the three-match ODI series, which starts on 1 November in Colombo. The other two ODIs are set to be played on 4 and 7 November.
West Indies, who must have been mighty disappointed after their failure to seal a spot in the 2017 Champions Trophy in England, can let their frustration out by playing some quality cricket against Sri Lanka in the ODI series and prove they are still one of the best limited-overs teams in the world.
However, West Indies are not going to find it easy against Sri Lanka, who also want to get back to winning ways after they lost to Pakistan in the last ODI series. With both teams having to prove themselves in the fifty-over format, their players are expected to fire on all cylinders in the series.
The focus, after the ODI series, will turn towards the T20 format with the first and the second matches to be played on 9 and 12 November.
Test Squad: Sri Lanka - Angelo Mathews (c), Lahiru Thirimanne (vc), Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Kusal Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal and Dushmantha Chameera
West Indies – Jason Holder (c), Kraigg Brathwaite (vc), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood,Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Rajindra Chandrika, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shai Hope, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor and Jomel Warrican
Sri Lanka vs West Indies Test series schedule
1st Test at Galle International stadium, 14-18 October
Time: 10am local time (10am IST, 4:30am GMT)
2nd Test at P Sara Oval, 22-16 October
Time: 10am local time (10am IST, 4:30am GMT)
Sri Lanka vs West Indies ODI series schedule
1st ODI at R Premadasa stadium, 1 November
Time: 2:30pm local time (2:30pm IST, 9am GMT)
2nd ODI at R Premadasa stadium, 4 November
Time: 2:30pm local time (2:30pm IST, 9am GMT)
3rd ODI at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, 7 November
Time: 2:30pm local time (2:30pm IST, 9am GMT)
Sri Lanka vs West Indies T20 series schedule
1st T20 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, 9 November
Time: 7pm local time (7pm IST, 1:30pm GMT)
2nd T20 at R Premadasa Stadium,12 November
Time: 7pm local time (7pm IST, 1:30pm GMT)
