New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Preview: Confident hosts look to pounce on the Islanders

New Zealand and Sri Lanka will lock horns in the first of the two-match Test series at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Both the teams are coming off contrasting results in their preceding series in the format away and home respectively. While the Kiwis stunned Pakistan in the three-match rubber, the Islanders were blanked by England with a clinical performance in their own den.

Needless to say that Sri Lanka have a huge task on their hands and moreover, with this being only a two-match series, they don’t have room to endure a bad first innings. The likes of Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews will be key for them while Dimuth Karunaratne, their Test specialist, should also put his hand up in the conditions which will be definitely helpful for the bowlers.

New Zealand, led by Kane Williamson, are riding high on confidence and a couple of brilliant victories in alien conditions must have made them believe that they can win anywhere now. Playing at home after such a draining Test series is an icing on the cake for them. Though they will be aware of Sri Lanka’s threat as the visitors can come out all guns blazing with nothing to lose approach.

Given the current form, the Kiwis are the favourites but with that tag there will also be pressure on them to live up to the expectations.

Team Combinations

New Zealand

With only one spinner in the 13-man squad, Ajaz Patel is set to retain his place after an impressive series in the UAE. The deadly trio of Neil Wagner, Tim Southee and Trent Boult will also return to play together for the first time in four Test matches. The batting line-up will remain the same as the uncapped Will Young will have to wait for his chance. Colin de Grandhomme is the lone all-rounder and despite not stepping up, will continue to fill in the slot unless the hosts decide to go in with a less batsman.

Probable XI: Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner.

Sri Lanka

The tourists have their task cut out in terms of picking their best XI. If the only practice game is anything to go by, Danushka Guntahilaka might pip Lahiru Thirimanne for the openers’ slot with Karunaratne being the other batsman at the top of the order. Kusal Mendis, the skipper Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews will hold the middle-order which looks a bit settled at the moment.

Roshen Silva and Dhananjaya de Silva will fight it out for the number six slot with the former likely to get a nod for his ability to guts it out in tough situations while Dilruwan Perera should be the only spinner for Sri Lanka. He also bats well at eight. Kasun Rajitha, Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep will most probably be the three pace bowlers for this game.

Probable XI: Danushka Gunathilaka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal (c), Angelo Mathews, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha.

Head to Head

Matches – 32 | NZ won – 14 | SL won – 8 | Draw – 10

Focus will be on

Tom Latham (New Zealand)

The left-hander is known to bat patiently at the top of the order. But somehow, he didn’t get going in the series against Pakistan scoring only 99 runs across six outings. This will be an important series for him to regain the confidence and the Kiwis will want their opener to make amends quickly. Latham knows the conditions really well and if he gets his eye in then the opposition teams tend to find it tough to get him out.

Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka)

So Dinesh Chandimal is once again fit and raring to go. The Sri Lankan skipper strengthens his team’s batting and a lot will depend on how he and another veteran Mathews fare. Chandimal got injured during the first Test against England and Sri Lanka struggled at home without him. The alien conditions will be a bigger challenge for their technically best batsman and the captain should bring his A game to the fore in order to surprise the opponents who are ready to feast on them.

Stat Attack

91.88 – Kane Williamson averages 91.88 against Sri Lanka across 12 innings with 827 runs to his name to go with three centuries and four fifty-plus scores.

Broadcast Details

TV – Star Sports Select 1 and Star Sports Select 1 HD

Live Streaming – Hotstar

Match Timings – 3:30 IST; 11 local

Get the latest Cricket News and updates from New Zealand vs Sri Lanka series, Match Predictions, Fantasy Cricket Tips and lots more on CricTracker.com.