Windies batsmen struggle in tour game

Kraigg Brathwaite was the most impressive of the West Indies batsmen on a difficult day for the tourists in their warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Cricket Board President’s XI on Friday.

West Indies finished the first day of the three-day tour game 6-127 after choosing to bat, as Brathwaite top-scored with 45.

Rajendra Chandrika (18), Darren Bravo (21), Marlon Samuels (0), Jermaine Blackwood (3) and Shane Dowrich (3) failed to impress, while Shai Hope (24 not out) and Denesh Ramdin (5 not out) will hope to spend some quality time in the middle on day two.

Not helping West Indies’ preparations for next Wednesday’s first Test in Galle has been the constant rain in Colombo, which has limited players to mostly indoor sessions.

The three-day practice match against the President’s XI had been due to start on Thursday, but was rescheduled to Friday due to the inclement weather.

The West Indies are without coach Phil Simmons, who was suspended and replaced for the tour of Sri Lanka after publicly questioning the make-up of the one-day international squad.

He has been replaced by Eldine Baptiste, a member of the West Indies Cricket Board's selection panel.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have turned to youth in the post Sangakkara-Jayawardene era, naming former under-19s captain Kusal Mendis, 20, in their squad for the two-Test series against West Indies.

Left-arm spinner Milinda Siriwardene has been called into the squad, at the expense of veteran Upul Tharanga and Jehan Mubarak.

Off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal, whose doosra was deemed illegal after an official action test, has retained his spot in a side that also includes spinners Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera.

Angelo Mathews’ side is looking to bounce back after successive Test series defeats to Pakistan and India.

Sri Lanka Test squad: Angelo Mathews (captain) Lahiru Thirimanna (vice-captain) Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Janith Perera, Milinda Siriwardena, Kusal Mendis, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Tharundu Kaushal, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera.