Pakistan in England, 2 Test Series, 2018
ENG Vs PAK
England beat Pakistan by an innings and 55 runs
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Preview: Windies and Sri Lanka commence one of the most infrequent of international cricket assignments when the first match of a three-Test series begins on Wednesday at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad.
More than 36 years since being granted Test status, this is just Sri Lanka's fourth Test tour of the Caribbean and the first involving more than two matches.
On their last campaign to the region ten years earlier, the team led by Mahela Jayawardene claimed their first Test victory in the Windies in a shared rubber.
Sri Lanka will be keen to extend the form of their last seven matches in which they were beaten just once, away to top-ranked India, and enjoyed an historic 2-0 triumph over Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates while also prevailing at home over an improving Bangladesh side by the same margin in their last Test action in February.
However, their preparations for this series have been hampered by unexpected setbacks involving key players.
Concerns also linger over a number of seniors in the squad who are being managed very carefully with a view to ensuring their readiness for the World Cup in England in 11 months' time.
Opener Dimuth Karunaratne misses the tour because of injury, as do fast bowlers Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Pradeep.
Emerging batting star Dhananjaya de Silva was due in Trinidad on Monday having stayed at home when the touring party departed Colombo because of the shooting death of his father, a local councillor in the Sri Lankan capital, the evening before they were due to start the journey to the Windies on 25 May.
It is unlikely that he will be considered for the first Test although he is expected to be back in the key number three position come the second Test in St Lucia and the final match in Barbados, the first-ever day/night Test to be played in the Windies.
Of the trio of senior statesmen in their side -– left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, former captain Angelo Mathews and fast-medium bowler Suranga Lakmal – only Mathews featured in the lone warm-up match ahead of the Tests, a drawn three-day fixture against a Cricket Windies President's XI highlighted by captain Dinesh Chandimal's assured hundred.
All three are expected to play key roles in the quest for a first Test series triumph in the Windies although Sri Lanka's selectors have already indicated that concerns over their long-term fitness are likely to result in their being rested for at least one of the three matches.
Despite a poor showing in their most recent Test series in New Zealand last December, the Windies selectors have retained the bulk of that squad in the expectation of returning to the level of competitiveness they showed in earlier Test campaigns in 2017 against Pakistan, England and Zimbabwe.
Devon Smith, the 36-year-old opening batsman, has been named in the 13-man squad on the strength of a prolific first-class season with the Windward Islands.
It remains to be seen if he can earn a spot in the final eleven at the expense of incumbent Kieran Powell and extend a Test career that looked over when he was dropped following the second Test of the home series against England in his native Grenada in 2015.
A Queen's Park Oval pitch which has acquired an unfortunate reputation for a turgid surface encouraging neither fast bowlers nor attacking batsmen is likely to result in the sort of dour battle of attrition which will examine both the stamina and concentration of both sides.
Windies cricket remains in an almost perennial state of flux as their star players from the T20 franchise formats around the world continue to be ignored by the selectors, sparking considerable debate within the region, while an investigation into alleged match and spot-fixing by the international news network Al Jazeera has thrown an unwanted spotlight on the Sri Lankan game.
Teams
Windies: Jason Holder (capt), Kraigg Brathwaite, Devon Smith, Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich (wicketkeeper), Kemar Roach, Devendra Bishoo, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Roshen Silva, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Gamage, Lahiru Kumara.
Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK), Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)
With inputs from AFP
West Indies vs Sri Lanka: West Indies lost 6 wickets on Day 1. (Source: AP) West Indies vs Sri Lanka: West Indies lost 6 wickets on Day 1. (Source: AP)
West Indies flustered after winning the toss and electing to bat first. The hosts suffered two early blows with Carlos Brathwaite and Dwayne Smith getting out cheaply. The middle-order chipped in well with scores of 30s and 40s, to lead the fighting spirit. Shane Dowrich remained the highest run-scorer with 46* runs on the first Day. At stumps, West Indies reached 246/6, a score much better than with which they started off early on.
Live Cricket Streaming West Indies vs Sri Lanka Live Match 1st Test, When and Where to watch SonyLiv Cricket Online live Sony Six
Live Cricket Streaming West Indies vs Sri Lanka Live Match 1st Test, When and Where to watch Cricket Online live Sony Six
Here you can get all the information related to when, where and how to watch the first Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka at the Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad. In India, you can watch the live cricket on Sony Six and Sony SIX HD, Live Cricket Match, West Indies vs Sri Lanka Match updates, WI vs SL live cricket scores, WI vs SL live cricket updates, recent cricket scores. You can get all the information such as West Indies vs Sri Lanka, WI vs SL 2018, Test cricket match live, live cricket match today, live cricket scores, cricket live scores, live match updates, live scores online. Here you can get all the information and details as to when, where and how you can watch the live cricket WI vs SL, 1st Test match between West Indies and Sri Lanka from Port of Spain. Sri Lanka will aim to register their first ever Test series win in the West Indies when they take on take on the hosts in the first of the three-Test rubber at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad from Wednesday. Both teams will meet in the longest format of the game after a gap of more than two years, having last faced off during Windies' tour of Sri Lanka in October 2015. Going by current form, Sri Lanka hold the upper hand to re-write the record books, having won two of their last five Tests and drawing three.
On the other hand, this will be the first Test of the year for the Jason Holder-led side, who last played a five-day match against New Zealand in December 2017. Going into the first Test, the hosts will be relying on their senior pros to shoulder the responsibilities and take an early lead into the series. The batting responsibilities will rest on Kraigg Brathwaite's shoulders, who will be assisted by Shai Hope, Roston Chase, the recalled Devon Smith and Kieran Powell. (Read Full Match Preview)
When is the West Indies vs Sri Lanka 1st Test will start?
The day one of the first Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka begins on Wednesday, 6 June 2018. This is the first match of the three-Test series.
Where is the West Indies vs Sri Lanka 1st Test will be played?
The first Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka will be played at the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
What time does West Indies vs Sri Lanka 1st Test will start?
The first Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka will start at 07:30 PM IST (02:00 PM GMT).
Where to watch Live cricket Score online and live Streaming of West Indies vs Sri Lanka 1st Test?
You can watch the West Indies vs Sri Lanka first Test online live streaming on SonyLiv.com. You can also catch live scores, live updates and live commentary on IndiaTV.
How do I watch the live broadcast of West Indies vs Sri Lanka 1st Test on TV?
The first Test between West Indies and Sri Lanka will be broadcasted live on Sony Six and Sony Six HD in English commentary.
What are the squads for West Indies vs Sri Lanka 1st Test?
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich (wk), Devon Smith, Jason Holder (C), Kemar Roach, Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel, Devendra Bishoo, Jahmar Hamilton
Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal (C), Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Gamage, Akila Dananjaya, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Mahela Udawatte, Angelo Mathews, Jeffrey Vandersay, Kasun Rajitha, Asitha Fernando
