Big image: Last Test of New Zealand summer time
At a venue that they had beforehand been decked in, in Christchurch, this Sri Lanka staff pushed New Zealand shut. Heading into the Wellington Test, there’s prone to be some confidence in Sri Lanka’s seam assault, specifically. Kasun Rajitha delivered some wonderful new-ball spells, Lahiru Kumara hurried batters up together with his tempo, and Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka’s greatest bowler on the match-defining fifth day.
New Zealand will nonetheless again themselves, in fact, with Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell in excellent type, and others within the high order regularly contributing. But there’ll maybe be extra respect for the Sri Lanka assault amongst them, than when the collection began.
Often Sri Lanka bowlers are simpler to hit off their lengths, and don’t transfer the ball for as lengthy or as prodigiously as New Zealand seamers. In Christchurch, all three frontliners created each catching and lbw probabilities.
Compared to Hagley Oval, Wellington is a venue at which Sri Lanka have been regularly aggressive. Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis batted out a whole day and a session to avoid wasting a Test in 2018. Way again in 2006, Sri Lanka even received right here.
For New Zealand, that is the final Test of their summer time, they usually have none on the horizon till December. A 2-0 collection victory right here would assist salvage some delight, if little else, from what has been a disappointing World Test Championship cycle for them as defending champions.
New Zealand WWLDD (final 5 Tests, most up-to-date first)
Sri Lanka LWLWL
In the highlight: Henry Nicholls and Asitha Fernando
It’s been over a 12 months since Henry Nicholls final crossed 50 on this format. He has performed 15 innings since. There does not appear to be a critical technical flaw there – extra only a string of lapses in judgement, and the lack of confidence that accompanies such spells. Having began out decrease down the order, Nicholls is now batting at No. 4 place, which New Zealand have had hassle making steady because the retirement of Ross Taylor.
For a bowler who was taking part in his eighth Test, and simply his second in non-Asian circumstances, Asitha Fernando put collectively a surprisingly high-quality spell on the fifth night in Christchurch. He just isn’t a bowler with loads of top, neither is he particularly fast. But he does have a imply yorker, and an honest bouncer, each of which might unsettle even set batters. He has performed principally in unhelpful circumstances, however to this point averages 23.66, with 27 wickets to his identify.
Pitch and circumstances: Rain may play spoilsport
On the eve of the Test, Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne stated the floor for this match was trying even greener than the one at Hagley Oval, and that pitch had been nearly indistinguishable from the outfield. There is a few critical rain predicted for Wellington over the subsequent few days, nevertheless, with Friday, Monday and Tuesday trying particularly moist.
Usually, Basin Reserve pitches begin off very seamer-friendly, earlier than flattening out considerably because the Test goes on.
Team news: Will Sri Lanka area a four-man seam assault?
New Zealand will probably simply swap Doug Bracewell for the injured Neil Wagner. This might be Doug’s first Test since 2016.
New Zealand (possible): 1 Tom Latham, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Henry Nicholls, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Doug Bracewell, 9 Tim Southee (capt), 10 Matt Henry, 11 Blair Tickner
Sri Lanka appear to be significantly contemplating getting into with a four-man seam assault, which might imply that left-armer Vishwa Fernando comes into the facet, probably on the expense of left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya. This will go away Dhananjaya de Silva as the first spinner within the XI.
There can also be an opportunity that wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella might be omitted for Nishan Madushka, who would debut. Madushka is within the squad after having struck a century and a double-century in opposition to England A at dwelling. He did not hold throughout that collection, nevertheless, and had opened the batting. If he performs in Wellington, he’ll take the gloves and certain bat within the decrease center order.
Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Oshada Fernando, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Angelo Mathew, 5 Dinesh Chandimal, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Nishan Madushka (wk), 8 Kasun Rajitha, 9 Vishwa Fernando/Prabath Jayasuriya, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Lahiru Kumara
“They’re a quality side and we saw that over the five days in Christchurch. A number of those guys have had a number of tours to New Zealand now and have that experience. We’re seeing the benefit of that. They’ve had a great two-year period in the World Test Championship cycle, and would like to finish strong.”
New Zealand captain Tim Southee on Sri Lanka
“We challenged the Kiwi top order with our bowling. Even some of their players came up to me and said they hadn’t expected that kind of pressure from the Sri Lanka bowlers. I’ve toured New Zealand a few times, but this is the first time I’ve seen the Kiwis struggling like this against our fast bowlers.”
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne
Source web site: www.espncricinfo.com
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