It is not just T20 cricket that is forming the international schedule at the minute as a Test series between Sri Lanka and West Indies gets underway in Galle on Sunday when the two sides play the first of two matches.
With only two matches in this series we know that whoever comes out on top in this first game will immediately be assured a share of the spoils. That should ensure a competitive match, as should the fact that these games form part of the new World Test Championship.
Sri Lanka
It was clear during the T20 World Cup that Sri Lanka have made big strides in that format of the game in a really short space of time. We will now see whether they have made an improvement in the longest format of the game. They have one or two things in their favour here, the obvious one being that they are at home in conditions that they will know but it is interesting that they look like they are returning to the older experienced players rather than continue to promote the youth.
Whether that is because this is the final Test series of the tenure of Mickey Arthur before he leaves for the number one coaching position at Derbyshire I’m not really sure but it is an interesting move when you consider the impact the likes of Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga made at the T20 World Cup. This is a big series for Sri Lanka though because it will consolidate their all-round improvement in recent times if they can win it.
West Indies
You could argue that West Indies are going in the opposite direction. They were the top dogs in the 20 over format of the game but they put together a shambles of a campaign in the T20 World Cup, but their Test form has shown signs of life this year. The last time they were in this part of the world they were pulling off that incredible escape to beat Bangladesh in the fourth innings and then they had the better of a drawn home series with Sri Lanka.
West Indies have clearly improved their batting in the Test arena. One reason for that is the development of some handy all-rounders and a more consistent team selection is certainly helping them with that. In the main West Indies aren’t too bad with the ball and even in these conditions they have the bowlers to compete with any side. One thing which might hold West Indies back could be that their warm up match was rained off without a ball being able to be bowled because of the rain.
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Team News
Sri Lanka are expected to load their team with bowlers which means that all-rounders such as Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva are in line for selection. Niroshan Dickwella is suspended after wrecking the tour of England by breaking Covid-19 protocols so Dinesh Chandimal will have the gloves.
West Indies are potentially going to give Jeremy Solozano his debut in this match. The team selection issues revolve around the balance of their bowling attack and whether to load up with spin or use the part-time spin of Roston Chase.
Betting
Kraigg Brathwaite has a pretty decent record both in Asia and against Sri Lanka. In the Test series in West Indies earlier in the year, in one of the matches the West Indies captain made scores of 126 and 85 and just prior to that in the series with Bangladesh he had first innings scores of 76 and 47. He also has big scores against Pakistan in the UAE so there is something about travelling and playing Asian sides which suit the game of the opening batter.
That makes me think that his performance line of just 59.5 is a little on the low side. I understand why it is so low, because rain is always a threat in this part of the world at this time of year, but the flip side of that is that the moisture will negate some of the spin which should make the life of Brathwaite a little easier. He has become a pretty reliable batter for West Indies at the top of the order and given that he might snaffle a catch at slip too I like the over here.
Tips
Back K.Brathwaite’s Performance – Over 59.5pts for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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