Lewis expects Test team to continue to improve

With the West Indies first home series in a year now complete, former cricketer Wayne Lewis says that he sees improvements in the team's performance despite not being able to force a result in the Test series against Sri Lanka.

The series, which featured Kraigg Brathwaite as permanent captain for the first time, ended in a stalemate as both matches played out to draws. The results were an anti-climax to the Caribbean's side first home series since the coronavirus pandemic, as the West Indies won the T20 and One-Day Internationals (ODI) convincingly.

While pleased with victories in the other formats, Lewis said that he sees progress with the Test side, having not lost a game this calendar year.

"Progress is a good word. It's the first time that I can remember West Indies playing four Test matches back to back and don't lose one," Lewis told STAR Sports. "They won 2-0 in Bangladesh in difficult circumstances, and what is significant in terms of the selectors sticking with the new players, is that the only change in the Test would have been Jason Holder coming into the team."

Amid notable players opting out of the Bangladesh tour because of COVID-19 concerns, the West Indies featured debutants such as Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua Da Silva and Kyle Mayers, who played their part in securing that series win. In the Sri Lankan series, Bonner managed to achieve his first Test century in the first match and was named Player of the Match. Mayers made two half-centuries during the series. w Cornwall was also impressive with the bat, scoring two half-centuries in the series.

With a break before their next scheduled home series which is slated for the summer, former cricketer Nehemiah Perry says that it will be up to the coaching staff to perfect the balance of the squad so they may be able to challenge stronger opposition that is expected to play in the region.

"They have to determine from a team perspective now how we can sit down as a body and analyse how we can get better, because that is the aim. How can we develop the team to get a better balance and [be] more effective when we go against stronger teams?" Perry said. "Because if you are not evolving as cricketers, then you are not going to do well against the better teams."

The West Indies are scheduled to host Australia and Pakistan later this year, as well as a rescheduled series against South Africa. The West Indies are already confirmed to host England in January 2022.