ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – West Indies A will host their Sri Lankan and English counterparts for “Test” and one-day series in a six-month period beginning from October, in what will be a busy period for the region’s second string international men’s side.
They first host the Sri Lankans in three “Tests” and three one-day matches between October 11 and November 5 in Jamaica before welcoming the England Lions for an identical series beginning next February.

While the Sri Lankans toured the Caribbean as recent as four years ago, the Lions visit represents the first time in 12 years the English A side will clash with the Windies.
And Cricket West Indies Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams, said the tour would be critical in terms of identifying players for the senior side.
“This series will provide an incentive for our players to excel during the next Digicel Regional Four-Day and Regional Super50 tournaments,” said Adams, a former West Indies captain.

“It will also give the selection panel a chance to identify the next tier of players they believe have the capacity to be successful on the international stage and would offer those players the platform to announce themselves through the intensity of a higher level of competition against their peers from England.”
The Lions last tour to the Caribbean resulted in a 1-0 defeat in a two “Test” series and a 3-2 loss in the five-match one-day series.
Players like successful former England senior captain Alistair Cook featured on that tour along with future West Indies stars like Marlon Samuels.

They play the first two “Tests” in Jamaica – the first at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium on the island’s north coast from February 11-14 and the second at Sabina Park in Kingston from February 18-21.
The third Test is scheduled for the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in North Sound here from February 26 to March 1.
Antigua will also host the one-day series from March 6-11 at Coolidge Cricket Ground – formerly the Stanford Cricket Ground.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will play the opening two Tests in Trelawny, with the first game bowling off from October 11-14 and the second beginning five days later.
The third Test will be played at Sabina Park from October 26-29.
Sabina Park will host the first two one-dayers on November 1 and 3 respectively before teams return to Trelawny for the final match on November 5.