Sri Lanka v West Indies Test series 5 players to watch out for

Sri Lanka v West Indies Test series 5 players to watch out for: The Test series in Sri Lanka provides a perfect opportunity for both the teams looking to start a new journey in their quest for consistency. The young sides look well-balanced outfits and playing fearless cricket should be their motto; something that comes naturally to both the teams. Playing away from home can be a blessing in disguise for the West Indian players, considering the tumultuous state of affairs in West Indian cricket. As for the hosts, the series gives them a chance to rectify the mistakes they made against Pakistan and India and hopefully get the right results. Here are the Sri Lanka v West Indies Test series 5 players to watch out for: 1. Jason Holder: Jason holder. (©Getty Images) When he takes the field on Wednesday against Sri Lanka, Jason Holder is set to become the second youngest captain in the history of West Indies Test cricket. He will surpass Dwayne Bravo who captained the Windies in a solitary Test match against South Africa; albeit in a losing cause. The versatile Jackie Grant remains the youngest ever Test captain for the once mighty team. Holder has all the right attributes to become a truly world class all-rounder. The Right-arm medium-fast bowler uses his tall frame to good effect extracting bounce even on docile tracks. Line and Length being his forte, Holder will be looking to lead his team from the front. He has played 8 Test matches and taken 16 wickets at a strike rate of 77.5, something that he will have to improve on. The West Indian captain is no mug with the bat either. A match-saving century against England in Antigua and an unbeaten 82 against Australia in Jamaica showcased his calibre as a Test batsman. A batting average of 34.54 appears impressive and is heading in the right direction. His captaincy will be tested however his calm demeanour should hold him in good stead. 2. Angelo Mathews: Angelo Matthews. (© Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images) Jason Holder’s Sri Lankan counter-part is an absolute class act. Mathews has played 52 Test matches and scored 3801 runs at an average of average of 52.06, something which speaks volumes about his temperament and skills. Being the host’s most experienced batsman, he will have to be on top of his game and continue his rich vein of form. His greatest asset is his ability to pace his innings under pressure. Strong on both sides of the wicket, he is comfortable against spin and pace alike. A gifted stroke player Mathews is adept at playing attritional cricket as well. His captaincy skills will be put to test against the unpredictable visitors who can play attacking cricket to good effect. A handy medium pace bowler he gives crucial breakthroughs at important junctures of the match. Having led his country in 21 Tests, he has won 8 and lost 8 with 5 matches producing no result. 3. Rangana Herath: Rangana Herath. (Photo Source: AFP) Having taken over from Muttiah Muralitharan as Sri Lanka’s main wicket-taking bowler in Tests, the veteran left-arm spinner is one of the finest spinners to have ever played the game. A record of 278 wickets from 63 Test matches with 22 five-wicket hauls proves why he is a genuine match winner for his team. His strengths are his accuracy, ability to bowl long spells and a quicker one that darts back into the right-hander with pace. He uses this variation to good effect accounting for many dismissals. His contest against Marlon Samuels should provide some fascinating cricket. His performances may well define the outcome of this series. 4. Marlon Samuels: (source) A veteran of 59 Test matches this man can bat as well as anybody on his day. A brilliant striker of the cricket ball Samuels is an elegant batsman to watch when in full flow. His mantra of not allowing spinners to dictate terms to him may have landed him some criticism at times, however, there is little doubt about his ability to win matches on his own. No stranger to the subcontinent, the visitors will pin their hopes on him to score some big ones. His knock of 78 in the World Twenty20 final against Sri Lanka, which lifted West Indies out of a hole and to their first world title since the 1979 World Cup is well remembered by the Lankan fans. Samuels has the game to replicate such dominance in this series and must be gearing up for his duels against Herath and co. 5. Devendra Bishoo: Devendra Bishoo. (Photo Source: Getty Images) The leg-spinner from Guyana won the ICC’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year award in the year 2011. A Test career that started on a promising note soon went into oblivion due to lack of wickets and Bishoo had to work hard to earn back his place in the national team. His spell of 6 for 80 against the Aussies in the second match at Dominica in June 2015 reminded everyone about his ability to spin a web. Leg spin bowling is an art which take time to master and Bishoo seems to have worked extremely hard to get consistency in his bowling that is a must for the demands of international cricket. He will relish bowling on the turning tracks in Sri Lanka and his ability to bowl long spells should prove to be a valuable asset for his team.