Hope fit but Roach doubtful as West Indies eye series win

After seven defeats across their previous eight Tests, an innings victory, was the proverbial monsoon in the desert as far as West Indies were concerned. A statement victory to start off the new World Test Championship cycle, and one that has no doubt reignited belief within this young West Indian outfit. Whether it was Amir Jangoo and Roston Chase’s epic partnership or the fire-breathing exploits of Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph, West Indies swarmed Sri Lanka across all departments. And with Shai Hope set to make his return to the XI, it’s clear this West Indies side is one on the rise. Of course, it’s far too early to make sweeping declarations, but if they can add consistency to their ceiling, there is no saying how far they can go. As for Sri Lanka, the first Test was unquestionably a reality check. There was certainly some rust owing to their quite gentle Test schedule as of late, and so in terms of potential areas of improvement there are many. Pathum Nissanka had a Test to forget, as did other cornerstones of the batting unit such as Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis. The only positive takeaway was skipper Dhananjaya de Silva’s first-innings century, but more will be needed from those around him, especially when dealing with top-tier pace away from home.

On the bowling front, their own pace-bowling exploits weren’t helped in the slightest by Lahiru Kumara pulling up injured so early in the game, and having an extra reliable seam option will already raise the floor for the second Test considerably before a ball has been bowled. Milan Rathnayake’s five-for will also be cause for optimism. Beyond the series trophy, valuable WTC points are on the line. West Indies, under the leadership of Chase, have breathed fresh life into a tough WTC cycle. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka cannot afford another collapse if they want to remain genuine contenders for a final berth. With both teams having such few Tests this cycle, every result counts.

Shai Hope is back in training and will likely slot right back into the playing XI, but it’s his understudy that is taking all the plaudits. Amir Jangoo didn’t know he was playing until the eve of the first Test – until Hope’s untimely injury – and Sri Lanka in hindsight would have been wishing he hadn’t. Two-hundred-and-thirty-three runs later off his bat and West Indies were well on their way to a dominant win. It was an innings showing immense maturity, choosing when to defend and when to take on the bowling. It was also an innings that has given the West Indian think tank one of those good headaches, as the decision on who will make way for Hope has been complicated somewhat. One thing is for sure, it won’t be Jangoo, whose only goal now will be to replicate the patience shown across that first Test and give the Sri Lankans another long outing in the field.

Amir Jangoo scored his maiden Test double in the first Test (Cricinfo)

Since the start of 2022, of those to have played at least 10 Tests, only Kamindu Mendis (57.60) and Kane Williamson (56.07) have a better average than Dinesh Chandimal‘s 54.65. And of those two above him, Williamson is now retired while Kamindu’s numbers are propped up heavily by a quite extraordinary purple patch in 2024. In this context, Chandimal, who has struck 2241 runs in this period – the most by a Sri Lankan – can justifiably lay claim to being Sri Lanka’s – and the world’s – most consistent red-ball batter. In the first Test, this consistency fetched him 97 runs across two innings, including a 35th Test fifty. But as Jangoo and Chase showed, it’s the big ones that secure the wins. In a batting line-up that looked fragile and hurried against the moving ball, Chandimal’s experience and consistency will likely prove pivotal. He has shown over a long career that he possesses the defensive technique to weather intense spells of hostile pace, so if Sri Lanka are to mount any sort of fightback, it’s Chandimal they will look to to anchor the innings, absorb the pressure, and hopefully convert a start into a match-defining knock. Hope has recovered from the left shoulder strain that ruled him out of the first Test. He is expected to slot back in and with Jangoo having staked a claim in the playing XI, it could be Kavem Hodge that makes way. On the eve of the game, Chase said that Roach was nursing a hamstring niggle and was a doubtful starter. Seam-bowling allrounder Keemo Paul could get a look-in if Roach fails to recover in time. West Indies (probable): John Campbell, Brandon King, Shai Hope, Amir Jangoo Justin Greaves, Roston Chase (capt), Joshua da Silva (wk), Jayden Seales, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach/Keemo Paul Lahiru Kumara’s injury in the first Test means Sri Lanka will be sure to make at least one change, with Vishwa Fernando likely to come in as a replacement. While the batting let them down, it is a settled unit and therefore one that is unlikely to see a change. Sri Lanka (probable): Pathum Nissanka, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kusal Mendis (wk), Sonal Dinusha, Milan Rathnayake, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando (Cricinfo)