West Indies have decided to go with a four-strong seam attack to attempt to make full use of the seaming conditions
Toss West Indies won the toss and chose to bowl vs Sri Lanka
West Indies’ new permanent captain Kraigg Brathwaite decided to put Sri Lanka in to bat in the first Test at North Sound, as the home seamers will look to make use of some moisture in the pitch to carve early in-roads into their opposition’s batting line-up that is short on confidence.
Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne confirmed that he too would have bowled had he won the toss, but believes a total anywhere beyond 275-300 would provide a competitive platform for the rest of the game.
Pathum Nissanka, who had looked promising during the limited-overs series will be making his Test debut for Sri Lanka. The 22-year old has an impressive first-class record, having recorded 13 centuries and 13 fifties in 33 appearances.
The West Indies side, who will be without Darren Bravo or Jomel Warrican, have decided to go with a four-strong seam attack to attempt to make full use of the seaming conditions.
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Lahiru Thiramanne, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Suranga Lakmal, Vishwa Fernando, Lasith Embuldeniya, Dushmantha Chameera.
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), John Campbell, Nkrumah Bonner, Kyle Mayers, Jermaine Blackwood, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Jason Holder, Rahkeem Cornwall, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel.