Roston Chase called right at the toss and, without much hesitation, told Ian Bishop: “We’ll have a bowl.” The surface was just a touch green, the sky clear, and everyone on both sides seemed to think the new ball would do enough in the first hour to justify four quicks apiece.
The one significant West Indies change was forced. Shai Hope jarred his right shoulder at training on Monday and didn’t pull up in time. “It’s pretty sore, nothing too serious, but the physio said another few days,” the batter explained to television. That opens the door for Amir Jangoo, playing only his second Test, while Joshua da Silva returns behind the stumps after 18 months away.
So the hosts line up: John Campbell, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Jangoo, da Silva (wk), Justin Greaves, Chase (c), Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales. Four handy speedsters in there, with Chase admitting a spinner might be missed later but adding, “If it turns, I’ll roll the arm over.”
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have gone even harder at the pace option, leaving out senior left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya. Milan Rathnayaka, more a bowling all-rounder, comes in to partner Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando. Sonal Dinusha’s left-arm spin is the only slow-bowling cover.
Captain Dhananjaya de Silva shrugged at the decision to bat first: “Looks good now, but we think it will quicken up. Someone needs to stand up in that first session.” Pathum Nissanka and Nishan Madushka form the top order, followed by Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, de Silva himself and Kusal Mendis.
Former West Indies seamer Curtly Ambrose, on radio duty, reckoned the pitch “has a bit of juice but not a minefield.” His opposite number, Sri Lanka’s bowling coach Chaminda Vaas, smiled and said, “If the ball’s swinging, we’ll be happy.”
Conditions favour the new-ball bowlers, yet Antigua can flatten out quickly. A first-innings total near 300 often proves competitive here; anything less could leave the batting side chasing the match. Either way, the Test Championship points on offer mean neither camp can afford a passive first hour.
Sri Lanka XI: Nissanka, Madushka, Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, de Silva (c), Kusal Mendis, Dinusha, Rathnayaka, Rajitha, Kumara, Asitha Fernando.
