West Indies Opt to Bowl First Against Sri Lanka in Antigua The West Indies cricket team opted to bowl first against Sri Lanka in a Test match at North Sound, Antigua, on a pitch with a mild green tinge under clear blue skies. The decision to bowl was made after the toss, with both teams anticipating greater assistance for fast bowlers compared to spinners. Sri Lanka’s squad included four frontline quicks, excluding their senior spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, while West Indies fielded four fast bowlers in their XI. Sri Lanka’s lineup featured fast bowling allrounder Milan Rathnayaka alongside seamers Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, and Kasun Rajitha. Left-arm spinner Sonal Dinusha was their primary slow-bowling option. West Indies’ bowling attack included Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph, and Alzarri Joseph. The team also recalled wicketkeeper batter Joshua da Silva, who had not played a Test since December 2024. Amir Jangoo, a batter with wicketkeeping skills, replaced the injured Shai Hope in the XI, marking his second Test appearance. The West Indies’ batting order included John Campbell, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo, Joshua da Silva (wicketkeeper), Justin Greaves, Roston Chase (captain), Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach, and Jayden Seales. Sri Lanka’s lineup featured Pathum Nissanka, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Kusal Mendis, Sonal Dinusha, Milan Rathnayaka, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, and Asitha Fernando. Hope was sidelined with a shoulder injury, prompting the inclusion of Jangoo in the XI. The match setup reflected the teams’ emphasis on fast bowling, with both sides prioritizing pace options.#sri_lanka #west_indies #north_sound #milan_rathnayaka #kemar_roach
