Windies in search of first win in Sri Lanka

The West Indies will be keen to put in a solid all-round performance as they seek their maiden Test victory in Sri Lanka in the three-match series starting in Galle on Monday.

The West Indies have so far played six Tests in Sri Lanka, losing five and drawing one.

The visitors, who are without experienced batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, will find it tough to change the script this time under new skipper Darren Sammy and vice-captain Brendan Nash.

All-rounder Sammy, who replaced Chris Gayle, has been given the task of building the team for the future after being named captain last month.

Gayle and vice-captain Dwayne Bravo were replaced after they turned down central contracts offered by the cricket board.

But the pair have been named in the squad and are expected to play key roles in their team’s campaign along with veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Sammy, who has played only eight Tests since making his debut in 2007, is confident of a good performance from his team.

“We want to win, to play well and bring the passion and pride back to the West Indies. We are a little bit inexperienced, but we have put in a good preparation work ahead of our coming here,” he said ahead of the series.

“I am very confident of all the players I have here, likewise all the players are confident of giving off their best for the West Indies.”

The West Indies bowlers face a stiff task to keep pressure on Sri Lanka’s formidable batting as skipper Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan are capable of dominating any attack.

The hosts also have an impressive record in Galle, having won nine of their 16 Tests at this venue. They have lost three matches and drawn four.

Sri Lanka will be without off-spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, who played a key role in many of his team’s victories at this venue before retiring from Test cricket this year with a record 800 wickets.

But the hosts have talented spinners in Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis, who can put pressure on the West Indies.

Sri Lanka start the Test series as favourites as they have recently clinched their maiden one-day series in Australia, but Sangakkara said they were not taking the West Indies lightly.

“We don’t take any team lightly. We want to win the Test series. We expect nothing but the best from the West Indies and for us to match them,” the Sri Lankan captain said ahead of the Test.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Thilina Kandamby, Ajantha Mendis, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Kaushal Silva, Dhammika Prasad, Dilhara Fernando, Thilan Thushara, Suranga Lakmal.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (capt), Brendan Nash, Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Nelon Pascal, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas.