West Indies vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Preview & Tips - More pain for the Windies in the longest format

Sri Lanka avoided defeat across their last Test series with Bangladesh as they secured a 1-0 win following a draw and a victory by 78 runs. 

By contrast, New Zealand (575/8 declared and 306/2 declared) saw the Black Caps easily beat their opponents. In that meeting, the Windies were obliterated when batting for the second time, while their bowlers were hit for 881 runs for the reward of just 10 wickets across the match. 

Switching back to the Test match format for the first time in half a year, the Windies will likely struggle in this one. Having home advantage in the longest format is very important, but they have hardly been masters of their own conditions in recent years. 

Whether they bat first or second, starting well with the bat is crucial for the Windies across this series. They have been the victims of too many collapses when batting, with this seriously undermining their hopes of climbing the world rankings. 

Across that series, Sri Lanka impressed most with the bat. They scored 485 and 72/4 in the first Test before only needing to bat once in the second Test with a big score of 458. They were also able to bowl Bangladesh out for less than 300 in three of their four innings, with a brilliant display in the second Test allowing them to skittle Bangladesh for 247 and 133. 

Travelling to face the Windies will not be an easy trip, but it is one they will fancy their chances in. The Windies have been very disappointing across formats, with their exploits in Tests particularly poor. A win in the first Test would be a major statement for Sri Lanka, and I back them to make the most out of the woes of their hosts.