Sri Lanka tour to West Indies 2020 [Preview]

West Indies is scheduled to tour Sri Lanka in the month of February and March to play three ODIs and three T20Is. The visitors will kick-start their tour with a warm-up game against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI at Katunayake.

Kieron Pollard-led unit will be lock horns with Sri Lanka in a three-match one-day series that will begin from 22^nd February. The opening game of the one-day series will be played at Colombo. The second game of one-day series will be played at Hambantota on 26^th February. The third and final game of the series will be played at Pallekele.

Rovman Powell, Fabian Allen and Darren Bravo make their return to limited-overs squad for the one-day series in Sri Lanka. Kieron Pollard will continue to lead the side for West Indies. On the other hand, Sri Lanka have decided to bring back experienced players like Thisara Perera and Niroshan Dickwella.  Opener Danushka Gunathilaka and middle-order batsman Oshada Fernando were ruled out of the series due to injuries.

For Sri Lanka, the onus will be on the experienced batting trio of Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Perera and Angelo Matthews to do the bulk of the scoring. Since May 2019, Kusal Perera has topped the batting charts for Sri Lanka in white-ball cricket. Left-hander has accumulated 498 runs in 11 matches at an average of 45.27, which includes one century and three half-centuries to their name.

Besides Perera, Karunratne and Matthews have consistently producing runs for the side in one-day cricket.

Rookie opener Avishka Fernando has been valuable addition to the side in white-ball cricket. Since May 2019, swashbuckling opener Avishka Fernando has accumulated 426 runs at an average of 38.72, which includes one century and three half-centuries to his name.

In the bowling department, the side will be looking towards the likes of Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana and Wanindu Hasaranga to make crucial breakthroughs. Since May 2019, Medium-pacer Nuwan Pradeep has done well and claimed 17 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 26.41.

On the other hand, West Indies are coming into this series after completing a clean sweep over Ireland played in India.

In the batting department, the side will be depending on the likes of Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard to do the bulk of the scoring. Since May 2019, opening batsman Shai Hope has been the leading run-scorer in white-ball cricket for West Indies. Wicket-keeper batsman has accumulated 1389 runs in 37 matches at an average of 63.13. He has smashed seven centuries and seven half-centuries during this period.

Besides Hope, Pooran has put in exceptional performances for West Indies in limited-overs cricket. Left-hander has scored 851 runs in 22 matches at an average of 53.18.

In the bowling department, the side will be relying on the pace trio of Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph and Sheldon Cottrell to make early inroads with the new-ball. Since May 2019, Left-arm medium pacer Sheldon Cottrell has claimed 29 wickets in 23 matches at an average of 36.20.

The culmination of the one-day series will see West Indies take on Sri Lanka in a two-match T20I series. The two matches will be played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on 4^th and 6^th March respectively.