Roston Chase Hails Sri Lanka Series Triumph as Fresh Start for West Indies Test Revival

Antigua, July 8: West Indies captain Roston Chase believes his side's series victory over Sri Lanka can serve as a turning point for the team's Test ambitions, describing the success as "a stepping stone" towards building consistency in the longest format.

The Caribbean side secured their first Test series win since 2023 after defeating Sri Lanka in the opening Test before holding on for a draw in the second, ending an 11-series winless run and registering their first victory over Sri Lanka in a Test series in 23 years.

Chase credited the dramatic improvement in the batting unit, an area that has often let the team down in recent years while the pace attack carried the burden.

West Indies piled up 626 for 9 declared in the opening Test, powered by Amir Jangoo's 233 and Chase's 194, with the pair sharing a monumental 401-run partnership. In the second Test, Justin Greaves (180) and Shai Hope (112) combined for a match-saving 242-run stand that helped secure the drawn result and the series.

Reflecting on the performances, Chase said the team's ability to convert centuries into match-defining totals marked a significant step forward.

"We had four hundreds in the series, but more importantly they became big hundreds that helped us post commanding totals," Chase said. "That's the kind of batting performance we've been striving for."

The captain hopes the breakthrough will not prove to be another isolated success but the beginning of sustained progress for West Indies cricket.

"I want this to be a stepping stone. Winning one series is not enough—we need to build consistency and keep winning games. That's how we'll continue to grow as a Test side," he said.

Chase also expressed satisfaction at contributing significantly with the bat after striving to lead by example in previous series.

"I've been trying over the last few series, but to finally lead from the front with my own performances feels really special. Credit goes to the entire group for making this achievement possible," he added.

West Indies will next face Pakistan in a two-Test home series later this month as they look to build further momentum in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.

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