*Official* New Zealand in Sri Lanka Thread

[Legglancer]

Black Cap's In Sri Lanka !

Well New Zealand team is in Sri Lanka to play a short test and oneday series. Sri Lanka having the home advantage still looks quite fragile as their still in an experimental stage in terms of the team composition and captaincy. NZ eventhough whithout Mcmillan & Astle look better on paper than the SL team we Saw in Shajah recently.

Head to head Sri Lanka have been the better team by far when ODI's are considered. Their record against NZ is nothing short of phenominal having lost only 4 ODI's in the Last 20. But this could be the oppertunity for NZ to make amends.

In tests both teams look more evenly matched ... but I think the Black Caps have the edge.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I think Sri Lanka look a stronger team simply because they are at home. Tillekeratne's men ('Jayasuiya's men' sounded so much better ) are certainly not easy to beat at home.

 

[marc71178]

Anyone else think that the appointment of Tillekeratne is a backward step?

 

[Andre]

Possibly a backward step, but I think there is a theory behind it.

I'm pretty sure that Jayawardene will be their next long-term captain, they are just waiting until he is more secure.

If Atapattu was going to be a long term captain, he would have gotten both sides.

I think the West Indies have done the same thing with Lara as captain. It's a nice stop-gap thing but Sarwan will be the next long term captain.

 

[Kiwi]

Well I think that NZ should be Favourites going into the tour. SL have alot of problems it seems with alot of things.

 

[marc71178]

I wouldn't be so sure - they're back on home territory, and that makes a BIG difference to their performances.

 

[Neil Pickup]

SL to sneak it.

 

[anzac]

IMO the Test series will come down to which side / players have the bigger desire & belief to secure the victory......

NZ can not loose their 3rd place ranking but they want to give themselves some breathing space between SL & ENG. SL need to take out the series to maintain the status quo.

Despite the changes in squad & management etc, SL are not in the same disaray as WI where there is obvious bad blood between players & management / coaches. SL may be vulnerable with these changes but not moreso than the NZ team with their missing players.

NZ's chances rest with the few regulars left in the side - Richardson, Fleming, Bond & Vettori. If the fringe players can step up to the mark they can be competitive, if not then SL should be favoured.

For the ODIs SL have to be clear favs.

 

[Kiwi]

Well some good signs for both NZ and SL in the warm up match.

Jayawardene's 100 will put secure his position in the test team after a loss in form.

Good to see Tuffey bowling well for NZ taking 5 wickets but I was suprised that Butler didn't play the match. I thought he would have been given a go ahead of Bond(because he is definently in the team).

Big problem for NZ though with Wiseman. 48 runs of 10 overs is not good enough.. I don't think they should play him. Another pacey whould be better in my eyes.

It sounds like Horne and Richardson batted well which is promising for NZ as how long is it since we have had a good opening stand.

 

[anzac]

tour so far....

warm up match 1 - flat track & SL A out for under 300 with Tuffey taking 5!. In reply NZ bat thru to about a hundred run lead with Richardson getting a ton, and Fleming & Styris both scoring half tons.

warm up match 2 - same flat track & SL A again out for less than 300, this time the spinners share 5 with Vettori taking 3. Richardson just misses out on successive tons being out in the low 90s, but without support from any other score over 50. NZ making 200/6.

It would appear that the opening partnership of Richardson with Horne is looking good at this time - Richardson seems hungry for time in the middle & runs. Fleming & Styris seem to have found some of their form from the early part of the WC, and the bowling seems to be making the transition to the SL flat tracks better than I expected at this stage.

 

[Kiwi]

Well Richardsons form looks great. I am worried about Jones though and I really don't think he is to the standard yet.

Also worried about Bond. Reports coming back here say that he is struggling big time with the heat and is spending more time of the paddock than on.

Wiseman was better in the second match and I think Butler may be the bowler to miss the cut for the first game.

 

[Tim]

Well im back from my holiday in Australia & it seems the NZ team is still looking a little rusty after 2 practice matches.
I think they'll step up for the test matches & i'd like to see Bond & Butler given a crack with the new ball which remains to be seen after Tuffey getting that 5 wicket bag.

 

[Kiwi]

Butler started well but was expensive towards the end in the second match. I would like to see him and Bond together but Tuffey got wickets in both matchs so I think he will get the nod.

 

[Tim]

Well I doubt NZ will take in more than 3 seamers because its likely they'll probably want 2 spinners.

Heres my possible test team:

Richardson
Horne
Fleming
Sinclair
Styris
Oram
Hart
Wiseman
Vettori
Tuffey
Bond

It will come down to whether they want the 2nd spinner or the specialist batsman in Jones.

 

[full_length]

It will be suicide to take two spinners if they are not your best bowlers in those conditions. One is a necessity though and so Vettori walks in.

Hey Cairns isnt in your team?

Will Tuffey really get to play? NZ hid him all through the WC. He has played abroad before and never done well. Would be nice to see him in India later this year

I thought that maybe Hitchcock or Butler would get a chance.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Hitchcock is not a Test bowler. He doesn't have the pace.

Also, I'm fairly certain that Cairns isn't in the Test squad.

 

[Tim]

Cairns is not playing, although i think he is in the ODI squad for the triangular series with S.L & Pak.

From what im hearing, the squad I have picked is pretty much bang on, there is even a chance that Sri Lanka may play 3 spinners because it is such a turner of a pitch.

I guess this is Sri Lanka's way of saying don't prepare green seamers or else we'll give you these.

 

[Tim]

Hitchcock is not a Test bowler. He doesn't have the pace.

What the hell is that supposed to mean? you should know by now that a side will pick a bowler if he's taking wickets. Richard Hadlee was a prime example towards the end of his career when he was bowling no more than 130-135 k's maximum & he still took plenty of wickets.

I think to correct your statement it should read that perhaps Hitchcock is not suited to the test format rather than because he lacks pace.
Infact in the recent NZ/Ind series he reached close to 135 k's on the NZ radar which is around 140 k's in Australia so thats not too bad.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Do you honestly expect Hitchcock to threaten the Sri Lankans on the Sri Lankan pitches in Sri Lankan conditions with his pace? In ODI's it's different. I am a big fan of him for ODI's but don't you think there's some reason behind his selection for just 1 FC match and 47 OD matches? What benefit would the Kiwis get from playing a stock bowler around 73-75 MPH, who can't bat, in a Test match?

 

[Tim]

Yes its not because of lack of pace that he's not playing first class matches. He's quicker than Daryl Tuffey even.
The reason why he has only played 1 F.C match is because he's a variation bowler to stop the flow of runs, he's not really a wicket taker although I think he is capable of doing both.

He would have played more F.C games this season but he got injured & hence missed the rest of the season. And you'd be interested to know that he averaged 38 for Wellington this season with the bat in the State Shield over 10 or so games.

He's more than capable of playing test cricket, it's Daryl Tuffey who you should be referring to because i'll have no problems in agreeing with you there.