Chase targeting first Test win against Sri Lanka

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – West Indies Test captain Roston Chase believes his side has what it takes to open their account in this cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) in their upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka.

The two sides will clash in the opener at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium beginning on Thursday, with the home side having lost six and drawn one of their previous seven Test matches in the WTC.

While the West Indies will be going after their first Test series win against Sri Lanka in 23 years, Chase will be looking to secure his first Test victory since being appointed captain in May 2025.

Speaking in a pre-match interview on Wednesday, Chase said he was focused on claiming that first Test win.

“Firstly, I’d like to get the first win on the table for the West Indies team. We’ve played a number of matches but we haven’t gotten over that hurdle in winning a game as a team, so that’s the first goal I would like to see us achieve and then to win the series as well,” Chase said.

The 34-year-old Barbadian said playing at home and having the services of the returning Shamar and Alzarri Joseph along with fellow pacers Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales, were a big boost for the team.

Both Josephs missed the last Test series against New Zealand last December due to injuries, while the 37-year-old Roach – a veteran of 88 Test matches – is three wickets away from becoming the fifth West Indies fast bowler to claim 300 wickets.

Seales is also five wickets away from 100 Test wickets.

“I think mainly we know how to play in our own conditions, so that is the advantage for us, and we tend to utilise it very well,” Chase said.

“The last series we had against Australia the bowlers were on fire, and they really utilised the Caribbean wickets that we have to offer, so I think that’s where our strengths lie and we’ll be looking to utilise that as much as possible.

“Both Josephs are mainly the spearhead of the attack, especially Shamar who had an outstanding season against Australia, so to have him back is a plus and also to have Alzarri back in his home conditions, I think this is someplace where he enjoys bowling.

“I think when you speak about Jayden and Kemar it’s like a teacher and student kind of relationship that they have. Kemar is the kind of guy that always gives that knowledge to Jayden and Jayden is the guy who always wants to learn and improve because he’s young and Kemar’s been there and been doing it for a long time. He’s five away from 300 so that goes to show the type of class of player that he is,” the captain added.

Chase said he also expected to see a big improvement from his batters.

He said spending longer times at the crease and showing more consistency were crucial if they were to defeat Sri Lanka.

“I just want to see a bit more consistency. I think we have five centuries [in the Test Championship cycle] so it shows that guys have been putting up their hands, but I just think we need to do it a bit more as a collective unit so that we can get bigger scores.

“I think once we are able to consistently put 280 to 300 on the board, we will be a force to be reckoned with as a Test playing nation,” Chase said.

(CMC)