After a rain-hit ODI series and a closely contested T20I leg, West Indies and Sri Lanka shift their focus to the longest format when the first Test begins at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Thursday.

The two-match series carries contrasting significance for the teams. West Indies, rooted to the bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings after losing seven of its eight matches in the current cycle, is desperate to revive its red-ball fortunes. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, sits third in the table and will be keen to strengthen its push for next year’s WTC final at Lord’s.

“Every Test series is an opportunity for us to grow as a team and strengthen our identity,” West Indies head coach Daren Sammy said. “Sri Lanka are a quality side, so we’ll have to be at our best, but we’re excited about the challenge.”

With West Indies enduring a prolonged slump in Test cricket, Sammy stressed the importance of discipline and resilience.

“For us, it’s about playing with discipline, showing character when the game gets tough and representing the West Indies with pride,” he said.

Sri Lanka’s lofty WTC position, however, comes largely on the back of a 1-0 home series win over Bangladesh last year. Dhananjaya de Silva’s side will need victories away from home to remain firmly in contention.

Challenging conditions

The teams last met in Antigua in 2021, when both Tests ended in draws on batting-friendly surfaces. This time, conditions are expected to be more demanding, with recent domestic matches indicating pitches offering pace, bounce and seam movement.

West Indies is set to recall wicketkeeper-batter Joshua da Silva after he earned his place with successive prolific domestic seasons.

“I went back to first-class cricket, scored runs and got another opportunity, so I’m trying to make the most of it,” the 28-year-old said.

The hosts will rely on a potent pace attack led by the returning Alzarri Joseph alongside Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph to trouble Sri Lanka’s batting.

Sri Lanka’s pace unit, spearheaded by Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando in the absence of Dushmantha Chameera, will look to exploit the conditions, while its batting will once again revolve around captain Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal and the in-form Pathum Nissanka as it chases a first-ever Test series win in the Caribbean.

Published on Jun 24, 2026