The West Indies captain will be hoping to be consistent in the ODI series

PALLEKELLE, Sri Lanka, Oct 19, CMC – West Indies captain Shai Hope urges his team to play consistently good cricket in the much-anticipated first of three ODIs between hosts Sri Lanka and the regional team will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

With crucial ICC ranking points and World Cup qualification implications at stake, Hope says his team will need to be at their best if they are to topple the hosts.

“We are looking forward and need to make sure we play good cricket and get back up the rankings so we don’t have to qualify this time. We have to take it step by step, as much as we look forward, we have to stay in the present,” Hope said.

The West Indies, ranked 10th, are desperate to bounce back after their T20I series defeat. They will be led by the experienced Hope, with fast bowler Alzarri Joseph as his deputy.

The Caribbean side offers a rich mix of youthful exuberance and seasoned activists. A key component is 17-year-old wicketkeeper and batsman Jewel Andrew, who is keen to make a name for himself in international cricket.

Alongside Hope and Joseph, players such as Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford and Roston Chase bring firepower to the West Indian line-up, while Romario Shepherd and Hayden Walsh Jr provide plenty of depth in the all-rounder and spin departments.

“We have some new members and returning players and we need to deliver consistent performances together and find ways to win key moments in games and give our best,” Hope added.

Once again the regional team in Pallekelle are expected to be faced with a constant diet of spin and Hope is keen to take on the challenge.

“Coming to Sri Lanka you have to expect the ball to move a bit, especially from a spin bowling point of view. We can't have too much of a pre-conceived mindset. We’ll have to wait and see what the space offers,” Hope said.

“We have to play what we see and understand that it can look like a cloud of dust and go straight on playing.” We have to be adaptable in that regard and make sure we are ready to handle whatever they throw at us.” , he continued.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, currently number seven in the ICC Men's ODI Rankings, will be led by Charith Asalanka. Their team features a mix of experience and youth, with exciting young talents such as Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who has been called up to play in the ODI for the first time.

The team will be strengthened by the return of pacer Dilshan Madushanka, who has recovered from a thigh injury. Additionally, star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga returns to the team after missing two matches against India earlier this year.

In a direct duel, the two teams are almost equal. The West Indies have a slim lead, having won 31 of their 64 ODIs against Sri Lanka, while the hosts have claimed 30 wins.

In their last encounter, Sri Lanka dominated with an eight-wicket win in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Super Six in July 2023.