KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – West Indies A will be anxious to prove their worth following a trouncing in the recent “Tests”, when they take on their Sri Lankan counterparts in the first one-dayer of the three-match series starting here today. The Caribbean side went down 2-1 in the preceding three-match rubber, winning the first match by an innings but then losing by 280 runs and 10 wickets in the remaining contests.
Conceding that Windies A had been let down by their batsmen, one-day captain Jahmar Hamilton said they had also learnt their lessons and were hoping not to repeat the same mistakes.
“It is very important for us to win this series. We have been training very hard, but we failed to get the results in the ‘Tests’ we wanted, so we want to come out and win this series which will do a world of good to our confidence,” he said here yesterday.
“Our batting let us down in the ‘Tests’, but I believe if our batting line-up can put some runs on the board and give our bowlers sizeable totals to defend, that would be key to our success.
“During the ‘Tests’, the bowlers were bowling them out, so I think if the batsmen can get it together, they will put their hands up again and defend the runs.”
Four new players have been called up for the series with Youth World Cup star, fast bowler Odean Smith, along with all-rounder Kyle Mayers, speedster Ronsford Beaton and batsman Andrew McCarthy all joining the 13-member squad.
Hamilton said he did not expect his side’s approach to change, as they would focus on executing the basics properly.
“We got to see how they play and they are naturally aggressive in their batting and they have a decent all-round attack,” he said. “It is for us to do the basics and do them consistently well, and we will be successful.”
The 27-year-old Hamilton struggled in the “Test” series, gathering just 22 runs from five innings in which he never reached double figures once.
He takes over from “Test” captain Shamarh Brooks who remains in the squad, but said he did not envision the new role being a burden.
“I did not get the runs in the ‘Tests’, but that is behind me now. I have been stroking the ball well so it’s just about spending some quality time in the middle and once that happens, the runs will come,” the Antiguan said.
“There is no additional pressure from being captain. I know the players well. They are a great bunch of guys, so that should make the task even easier for me.”
The last time the two sides met in a one-day series in Sri Lanka last October, Windies A swept a similar three-match series.
The contest, a day/night affair, bowls off at 2 pm at Sabina Park.
SQUADS:
WEST INDIES A – Jahmar Hamilton (captain), Sunil Ambris, Ronsford Beaton, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Sheldon Cottrell, Montcin Hodge, Damion Jacobs, Reynard Leveridge, Kyle Mayers, Andre McCarthy, Odean Smith.
SRI LANKA A – Dhananjaya De Silva (captain), Charith Asalanka (vice-captain), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Roshen Silva, Sandun Weerakkody, Ron Chandragupta, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Amila Aponso, Malinda Pushpakumara, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Vimukthi Perera, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha.