Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 1st ODI, Preview - Caribbeans start as slight favourites as both sides aim to keep on spiraling upward

It’s been more than four years since Sri Lanka and West Indies locked horns in a bilateral ODI series. While the bilateral series between an eighth and ninth-ranked side may not draw widespread popularity, the eventual result would matter significantly to both. And much like the series in 2015-16, these two evenly matched teams would begin the battle in Colombo on Saturday to keep moving in the upward direction.

From Sri Lanka’s perspective, they will feel bolstered by the infusion of their key players who voluntarily opted out of the three ODIs in Pakistan in October. Dimuth Karunaratne will return to take charge of the ODI team that will also welcome back the likes of Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Angelo Mathews, and Niroshan Dickwella.

However, it also meant that all the candidates miss out from Sri Lanka Cricket XI, despite their narrow victory over the tourists on Monday. Not even a century and a fifty from Upul Tharanga and Asela Gunaratne respectively were enough to sneak into the squad.

Similarly, an economical bowling spell from Asitha Fernando combined with two scalps and a three-wicket burst of Dilshan Madushanka didn’t guarantee their selections either. The selectors decided to persist with Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, and Isuru Udana on the bowling front in a bid to bounce back from their recent chastening defeats.

A tight loss in the first practice match followed by convincingly winning in the second should give the West Indies all the confidence in the world. More than the comprehensive series victory against Ireland, what should give them a greater sense of optimism was how they gave India a scare on their home turf. West Indies’ penchant for emerging victorious has grown under Kieron Pollard’s watch and despite a trophy-less tour of India, his side made a statement of not taking a step back.

And if the visitors are without the explosive Shimron Hetmyer, Darren Bravo stepped up to the task and geared himself up with a breezy century of his own in the first practice game. Not only Pollard’s aura of captaincy but also in life, he remains a fulcrum in Nicholas Pooran’s meteoric rise. Heading a few months down the memory lane, his stupendous emergence began in Chester-le-Street when he smashed a century against Sri Lanka in a losing cause.

The likes of Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, Sunil Ambris, and Nicholas Pooran will most likely start in the playing eleven. Brandon King not hitting his straps in both the warm-up games could persuade them to move Ambris to the top along with Hope. Roston Chase, who spearheaded the chase of 277 in the second practice match, would have most likely sealed his spot for the first match as well. The only major area of improvement that the tourists might be eyeing is more discipline from their bowlers.

West Indies may start as marginal favourites, given their recent run of form. In reasonably low-key contests like these, a significant hand arrives from one of the lesser-known faces. And like Avishka Fernando and Nicholas Pooran in their most recent meeting in the 2019 World Cup, there could be another star in the making.

Playing Combinations:

Sri Lanka:

With their core players back in the fold from the series against Pakistan, the hosts will go through a complete makeover of their batting line-up. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne would return to the top-order possibly along with Avishka Fernando. Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, and Dasun Shanaka could comprise of the middle-order. The likes of Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan, and Wanindu Hasaranga could make up the bowling department.

Probable XI: Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Kusal Perera (wk), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera/Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Nuwan Pradeep/Lahiru Kumara, Lakshan Sandakan

West Indies:

The absence of Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer are significant blows to the West Indies, both of who failed the fitness tests. Hence, Sunil Ambris could take his place at the top alongside Shai Hope. Darren Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Roston Chase, and Kieron Pollard could form the middle-order. At the same time, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Hayden Walsh and Fabian Allen could cover the bowling department.

Probable XI: Brandon King/Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope (wk), Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard (C), Jason Holder, Keemo Paul/Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh Jr, Sheldon Cottrell, Alzarri Joseph

Focus will be on:

Avishka Fernando (Sri Lanka)

Since Avishka Fernando’s blistering century against the West Indies in Chester-le-Street, he has crossed 20 only once. Fernando’s attacking persona at the top is supposed to relieve the pressure on skipper Karunaratne. Thus, the right-hander must continue his natural gameplay at the top and not fade away after a sparkling knock in a World Cup game, even if it was a dead rubber.

Darren Bravo (West Indies)

Darren Bravo possesses the skillsets and the technique of fellow Trinidadian, Brain Lara. Even as Lara was the mainstay of West Indies’ batting line-up for several years, Bravo hasn’t been the same for them. Having made his debut way back in 2009, the southpaw has more often than not found himself out of the side mainly due to highly fluctuating returns.

Ahead of the ODI series, he geared himself with a hundred against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in a practice game. Bravo will most likely bat at number three, a position in which Hetmyer has done exceptionally well for the West Indies. Thus, the 31-year would have the responsibility to skilfully anchor the innings amid an inconsistent top-order.

Head to Head:

Played – 58 | Won by Sri Lanka – 27 | Won by West Indies – 28 | No Result – 3

Stat Attack:

111 – Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo will both play their 111th ODI for West Indies on Saturday.

1- Dimuth Karunaratne has led Sri Lanka in 11 ODIs so far. One more match as captain would bring him in level with Dinesh Chandimal, who has captained in 12 games.

6 – Six out of the last ten ODIs at the Sinhalese Sports Club have resulted in the match getting cancelled, abandoned or ended as no result.

Broadcast details:

TV – Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD

Live streaming – Star Sports

Match timings – 09:45 am IST, 09:45 am local.