As is often the case in the world of cricket these days, as one Test series concludes another one begins elsewhere around the globe as the West Indies and Sri Lanka get set to play their three match series later in the week.
It is fair to say both these sides have fallen from grace in this format of the game but you sense there is a desire to improve at it hence a three match series where in other nations this might be two games and a bunch of one-day matches instead.
Schedule
1st Test: 6-10 June at Trinidad
2nd Test: 14-18 June at St Lucia
3rd Test: 23-27 June at Barbados (day/night)
West Indies
You can understand the Windies’ fall away in this format of the game as it seems they are no longer able to get their strongest side out on the park for it. The one they have got shows signs of improvement such as when they saw off England at Headingley last summer but then for longer periods they look ordinary again.
I’m not convinced the wickets are particularly helpful to West Indies’ chances in this format. So many sides in world cricket who head there to play them would be at unease against quick, bouncy bowlers but there is little chance of that on the slow, turgid wickets that currently get rolled out in the Caribbean at present.
Sri Lanka
You get the feeling Sri Lanka are taking this series very seriously. They have arrived in the Caribbean early and have played a warm up match for it and there has been no resting of anyone who is available either which is good to see. There should be a feeling in their camp that they have every chance here too.
While it is fair to suggest that Sri Lanka are not quite the force of old in this format, and indeed that they are in transition in it, they have actually only lost three of their last nine series and they were to India and South Africa who are arguably the best exponents of five day cricket at the present time so it would be wrong to underestimate Dinesh Chandimal’s charges.
Head to Head
There have been eight previous series between these two famous cricketing nations. West Indies have got the upper hand in a couple of those while Sri Lanka have triumphed on three occasions. There have also been three drawn series. Sri Lanka have never won a series in the Caribbean though. West Indies have won two of the three with the other one finishing as a draw.
It is a totally different story in the individual match outcomes. While Sri Lanka have edged the most series they have comfortably the most wins. Of the 17 Tests they’ve played against each other Sri Lanka have won eight to West Indies’ three. They have also drawn six times.
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Betting
Both these sides are in something of a transition period so it will be interesting to see how these matches play out. I would expect three results, unless there is a load of rain but you get the feeling that one good or bad session either way could decide each match. With that in mind, while I’m tempted by Sri Lanka outright I’ll leave it and head for a player market.
The player in question is Akila Dananjaya who made a brilliant start to his Test match career when he bagged eight wickets in the match in Bangladesh earlier in the year. West Indies players don’t play spin all that well and they usually have plenty of left handers in their line up for the mystery offie to try and bamboozle. He took three wickets in the warm up match and at 7/1 looks grossly overpriced to be the top Sri Lanka bowler in this series.
Tips
Back A.Dananjaya Top Sri Lanka Series Bowler for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 with Bet365
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