Windies, Sri Lanka series a cracker in the making 

Angelo Mathews
Angelo Mathews

A cracker of a series is anticipated between West Indies and host Sri Lanka when the two sides kick off their three-match ODI and T20 series today in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. 

The series may fly under the radar as the world’s attention may be fixed on India’s ongoing tour of New Zealand while David Warner and Steve Smith’s return to South Africa has been grabbing the headlines, providing plenty of talking points. 

Nevertheless, the three-match ODI and two T20s between the eighth and ninth-ranked Sri Lanka and West Indies could jolt the cricketing world’s attention their way if all the stars align.

Darren Bravo

The last time the two sides met in the ODI’s, Avishka Fernando (105) and Nicholas Pooran (118) posted maiden one day centuries for their respective sides in the ICC World Cup contest last July where over 600 runs were scored. Sri Lanka won that contest by 23 runs. 

Both Pooran and Fernando are listed to play in today’s fixture and while they are considered to be key members of both teams, their performances over the next five matches will paint a clear canvas of what to expect in years to come. 

Fabian Allen, who had an outstanding outing against Sri Lanka in July when he nailed 51 off 32 balls and nabbed 1-44 to end as West Indies’ most economical bower, returns to the limited-overs side after being sidelined by injuries. 

His energy in the field and contributions down the order will be vital for the Caribbean men.

The return of Darren Bravo, who last played for the West Indies nearly a year ago, will bolster the batting unit. He showed form after registering a century in sides lost to a Sri Lankan President’s XI in the first warm-up match. 

Bravo and Roston Chase – who scored a century in second warm-up fixture – along with Shai Hope are perhaps the most accomplished batsmen in the team and a lot will be required of the trio. 

Skipper Kieron Pollard, who has been marshalling the troops well, isn’t short on hitting options following the return of Jason Holder (rest) and Rovman Powell (injury) to provide muscle down the order and bowling variety in the middle passage. 

The bowling, on the other hand, will continue to be spearheaded by Alzarri Joseph and Sheldon Cottrell while Keemo Paul’s mental toughness and skill in the death overs will be interesting to follow as the series unfolds. 

The one misfortune for West Indies which occurred before the series began, was the exclusion of Shimron Hetmyer and Evin Lewis who were left out of the side after being deemed unfit. 

Both men are considered long term permanent fixtures and it would have been ideal for them to continue gelling as a batting unit along with Hope, Pooran, Bravo, and Chase to consolidate the top and middle order.

For Sri Lanka, who is in a similar rebuilding phase, a series win is all that is expected by their followers. Their batting will be spearheaded by the niftiness of skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis, while the experience of Angelo Mathews could present headaches for Pollard and his men. 

Let’s not forget the damage that can be inflicted by Fernando, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, and Dhananjaya de Silva as wrist-spinners; leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and left-arm wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan could prove to be Windies’ kryptonite. The results of the series can tilt either way.