The once kings of cricket, the West Indies who mightily dominated world cricket for two decades from the 1960s to the 1970s are in town for a 3-match ODI series and 2-match T20 series. The West Indies have been on a long revival of its cricket from a jagged past since its cricket rock bottomed to a low of even losing to minnows Bangladesh. In that scenario, it is to their credit that under the West Indies have made considerable progress on the comeback trail to regaining lost prestige.
It is rife to recall that during the might of their cricket era when the West Indies proved to be invincible the famous Calypso song, “Close the doors, cos we will come through the windows.’
For the record, of the 57 ODIs played between Sri Lanka and the West Indies, they have won 28 as against Sri Lanka’s 26 with three no results since the first match in 1975 in the 1975 Prudential World Cup on June 7 which the West Indies won by 9 wickets at Old Trafford Manchester.
The last match between the two sides was in the 2019 World Cup played at Chester-le-Street on July 1 which Sri Lanka won by 23 runs. Meanwhile, of the 9 T20I’s played so far Sri Lanka has won 6 matches to the West Indies 3.
The tour commences with the West Indies playing two warm-up matches against the Board President’s XI on February 17 at the P. Saravanamuthu Stadium and February 20 at the Chilaw Marians Cricket Grounds, Katunayake respectively. The first ODI will commence at the Sinhalese Sports Club Grounds on February 22 and the second on February 26 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota and the third on March 1 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy. The first T20 will be played on March 4 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy and the second one on March 6 at the same venue.
Squad: Kieron Pollard (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Sunil Ambris, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh.
MATCH SCHEDULE
February 17 – warm-up at P Sara Oval
February 20 – warm-up vs SLC President’s XI – CMCG, Katunayake
February 22 – 1st ODI at Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
February 26 – 2nd ODI at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota
March 1 – 3rd ODI at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
March 4 – 1st T20I at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
Match 6 – 2nd T20I at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
By Srian Obeyesekere
-The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sri Lanka Cricket-