Galle, Sri Lanka – West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford is confident ahead of the start of the three-match ERI Test Series against Sri Lanka. The tall 27-year-old is on his first international tour and he will be ready to do the job when he gets the ball in his hand.

The 1st Test match bowls off on Monday at the International Stadium in the southern town of Galle. First ball is 9.30 am (midnight Eastern Caribbean Time/11 pm Sunday Jamaica Time).

“My preparation has been going well. I have been doing a lot of work and the ball is coming out the way I like it. This will be my first taste of Test cricket outside of the West Indies and I’m looking ahead to these games. I am the type of player who likes a challenge and I will be giving it my all in the upcoming matches. I want to make a difference,” Shillingford said.

“The Sri Lankans are good players of spin bowling and I’m looking forward to the test. I have the confidence that I do well on these pitches. I played against South Africa earlier in the year in the Caribbean and I learned a lot in that series. This series will be another chance for me to improve and do well for the team.”

Shillingford was speaking on Saturday evening after the Windies had a four-hour training session at the match venue. The side travelled down from Colombo earlier in the day. He said there was a buzz in the camp and everyone was looking ahead to the upcoming matches.

“As a team, we are in good spirits and we have been working really well together. Things are looking good ahead of the 1st Test and everyone is talking about the upcoming series. Everywhere we go the people here and excited about seeing us play against the Sri Lankans and this is helping to get us pumped up as well. We know what we have to do when the big occasion comes.”

The West Indies will have their final training session ahead of the opening Test match on Sunday afternoon.

Upcoming matches
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