Colombo, Sri Lanka – West Indies will start their tour of Sri Lanka with a three-day match against the Sri Lanka Cricket’s President’s XI on Wednesday at the Singhalese Sports Club. First ball is 10 am (12.30 am Eastern Caribbean Time/11.30 pm Tuesday Jamaica Time).
After two days of intense training at the match venue the Windies are ready for the match as they seek to get fully acclimatized ahead of the three-match ERI Test Series against the Sri Lankans.
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy addressed the media at the official series launch on Tuesday night. He said the warm-up match is the only chance to get action in the middle ahead of the important series and the players aim to maximize the 270 overs available.
“This is a very serious match for us. We want to make sure we are ready for the Test matches, which are just around the corner. This match will present an opportunity for the batsmen to spend a lot of time at the crease and get used to the conditions here in Sri Lanka. We have some batsmen in the team who are new to Sri Lankan pitches, so everyone is keen to make the most of the opportunities,” Sammy added.
“Traditionally the pitches here in Sri Lanka are good for batting, so the bowlers will also get a chance to have a good run and see what is required. We had an excellent camp in Barbados and two days of solid training here. We are now at the business end of the tour. We will be looking to play this match as hard as we will play in the Test matches.”
This is Sammy’s first series as captain. The 26-year-old allrounder outlined how important the tour is for his team and for West Indies cricket.
“This is a very important series for us as a team. We have not been doing that well in recent years but we are a committed team and we are looking to do well in this series. Sri Lanka play very well at home but we are not daunted. We have the confidence that we can come here and win. For us in the West Indies, cricket is more that a game. All the players here are committed. We are going to bring back the passion and the pride and also perform to take the West Indies back up the ladder.”
WEST INDIES SQUAD: Darren Sammy (Captain), Brendan Nash (Vice Captain), Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Nelon Pascal, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas
TEAM MANAGEMENT UNIT: Ottis Gibson (Head Coach), Joel Garner (Team Manager), David Williams (Assistant Coach), C.J Clark (Physiotherapist), Richard Berridge (Video & Statistical Analyst), Hector Martinez Charles (Strength & Conditioning Co-ordinator), Philip Spooner (Media Relations Officer), Virgil Browne (Massage Therapist), Courtney Browne (WICB Selector)
Tour schedule
November 10-12: vs Sri Lanka President’s XI at SSC, Colombo
November 15-19: 1st Test at Galle International Stadium, Galle
November 23-27: 2nd Test at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
December 1-5: 3rd Test at Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Kandy
December 9: 1st ODI at Suriyawewa Stadium, Hambantota
December 11: 2nd ODI at Suriyawewa Stadium, Hambantota
December 15: 3rd ODI at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
December 17: 4th ODI at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
December 19: 5th ODI at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
December 21: T20 International at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
For more details and highlights visit:
www.windiescricket.com
www.digicelcricket.com
