Two nations with a big history in Test cricket but who are both struggling right now meet in the first of two Tests in Galle on Wednesday as Sri Lanka take on the West Indies in a five day battle which appealingly is being shown live on Eurosport in its entirety in the UK.
Sri Lanka have seen some big players depart and are very much in a transition phase right now. They are looking to build a platform of confidence for the next couple of years.
West Indies look a mess whichever way you look at them at the minute. Like Sri Lanka they have seen one of their legends depart although unlike Sangakkara and Jayawardene, Shivnerine Chanderpaul didn’t get to choose when he left the side. It might be that he still returns but that seems unlikely.
Sri Lanka are likely to give a debut to Milinda Siriwardena who scored a century in the warm up match. Lahiru Thirimanne is expected to be given the role of filling Kumar Sangakkara’s boots at number three with Siriwardena moving into the middle order.
West Indies are expected to recall Devendra Bishoo after he missed their last Test against Australia a few months ago. Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach will be big with the ball while Marlon Samuels and Denesh Ramdin need to perform with the bat.
The Galle International Stadium is the venue for this match. It will be the 27th time the ground has held a Test match. Sri Lanka love it here. They have 14 wins and just six defeats with six draws. West Indies are winless in two games here.
Traditionally a full strength West Indies struggle in this part of the world so a weakened one almost certainly will. Sri Lanka might be in transition but they still have a quality spinner in Rangana Herath and on a wicket which often turns square from day one he will be crucial.
I think Sri Lanka’s biggest opposition here will be the weather but they won’t need all five days to win this one anyway so at 4/5 I’m happy to get on the hosts here particularly as the forecast isn’t as bad as some you see in Sri Lanka.
Back Sri Lanka to win 1st Test for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Paddy Power
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