ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – A handful of players expected to appear in the first Test against Sri Lanka will finish their preparations, when XI President of India Cricket challenges Sri Lanka in a two-tour match starting here today.
Darren Bravo’s quartet, Kyle Mayers, Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach, recently named in next weekend’s 13-man Test squad, have all been included in the tour-tour squad led by Roston Chase.
The card, which is carded for Coolidge Cricket Ground, will provide the final opportunity for match practice and Roach said yesterday that the trip would also be used by bowlers to scrutinize opposition batters.
“This upcoming two-day game is about just finding my rhythm and also looking at Sri Lankan batsmen and finding out their weaknesses so we can pass it back to ‘ the bowling team and putting our plans together for the upcoming series, ”explained Roach.
“It’s very important for me to have some good little mating exercise for myself so I’m looking forward to it. Hope all is going well and I’m ready and racing to go come on Sunday. ”
Roach, along with Mayers and Gabriel, were members of the side that defeated Bangladesh 2-0 to pull off a historic away win in Dhaka.
Despite playing a weak side after a host of first-choice players pulled out of the tour, West Indies went on to win the first Test in Chattogram by three wickets and grabbed the second in the nation’s capital of 17 runs .
Roach said it is important to take the same spirit of the Bangladesh tour into the upcoming series.
“It’s a good feeling to be back in action after a great series in Bangladesh,” said the leading fast bowler, who has bagged 205 wickets from 61 Tests.
“I thought the guys really worked hard and fought even harder on the field so a lot of confidence was gained, and I’m looking forward to seeing the guys express themselves in this series against Sri Lanka, and looking forward to an even better result.
“I’m sure the guys are really excited to get back on the park and continue the moment, and look to win more Test matches for the West Indies.”
Bravo is one of only two players – along with Jason Holder – who did not tour Bangladesh but has been recalled to the sidelines for the Sri Lanka series.
Mayers, who hit a remarkable double hundred on his first appearance in Chattogram and Nkrumah Bonner, another controversy who finished as Man-of-the-Series after scoring half a century in each Test, will also be looking for runs to improve their confidence.
With the likes of opener John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall and Joshua Da Silva having only played 20 Tests between them, West Indies lacks extensive experience but Roach said confidence would be key.
“I expect these guys to go out there and fight. It’s still a young side and a work in progress but the way we practice is the way we’re going to play and I think we’ve been doing that well okay, ”he noted.
“We’ve been planning well, we’re having a lot more discussions so in these two Test matches, I’m just looking for the guys to express themselves with the confidence they got from ‘ the last series.
“[We have to] we just know how to play the cricket – that’s very important – and of course enjoy it. ”
He added: “It’s going to be an exciting series to come. We’re at home … so it means we go out there, no pressure on ourselves, just play what we know and look to win this series again for India ‘ r West. ”
The President’s XI squad will also include a prolific one-day opener, Shai Hope, who was dropped last year following the tour of England due to his ordinary Test form but who has continued to score heavily in the shorter format.
Hope finished with 258 runs at an average of 86 in the three-game one-day series that finished here last Sunday, scoring a century and two half centuries.
Left-handed player Shayne Moseley, who struggled badly on the first international in Bangladesh, will also fit in the two-day match along with fullback Kavem Hodge and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, both they went on a tour of Bangladesh but failed to get a match.
The first Test bowls away on Sunday at Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
SQUARE:
WEST INDUSTRIES – Roston Chase (captain), Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar Hamilton, Keon Harding, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Kyle Mayers, Shayne Moseley, Veerasammy Permaul, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach.
SRI LANKA – Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Roshen Silva, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, Ashaga, Suran. Dushmantha Chameera, Lasith Embuldeniya.