New Zealand Embarks on Sri Lanka Tour with Echoes of 2019
As New Zealand prepares to tour Sri Lanka, parallels to their previous visit in 2019 emerge. Back then, the world was on the cusp of the COVID-19 pandemic, while Sri Lanka was recovering from Rangana Herath’s retirement. Today, the pandemic has subsided, and Herath returns as New Zealand’s spin-bowling coach.
However, similarities abound. Sri Lanka enters the series buoyed by a historic Test win in England, mirroring their 2019 triumph in South Africa. Both tours also coincide with presidential election years.
New Zealand’s squad remains largely unchanged, with a few retirements and new faces. Despite their third-place ranking in the World Test Championship, they face a daunting task with two Tests in spin-friendly Galle, where they have never won.
Sri Lanka has experienced a rollercoaster year, with strong performances against Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, followed by a disappointing T20 World Cup and a series win against India. Their recent victory in England has boosted their confidence ahead of this home series.
Key Players to Watch:
* Prabath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): The left-arm spinner has an exceptional record at Galle, with 53 wickets in 12 innings.
* Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand): The all-rounder has shown promise in white-ball cricket and is expected to play a crucial role in the subcontinent.
Team News:
Sri Lanka is likely to retain their winning combination, with Kusal Mendis taking the gloves and Dinesh Chandimal moving up the order. Ramesh Mendis will provide support to Jayasuriya in the spin department.
New Zealand’s playing XI is largely settled, with Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel leading the spin attack. The only question mark is the second seam option alongside Tim Southee.
Pitch and Conditions:
Rain is expected throughout the Test, making winning the toss and batting first crucial. The Galle surface typically deteriorates by days four and five.
Stats and Trivia:
* Only five teams have opted not to bat first after winning the toss in Galle, with two winning.
* Lahiru Kumara is four wickets away from 100 Test wickets.
* Henry Nicholls needs 27 runs to reach 3,000 Test runs.
* New Zealand has lost all four Tests they have played in Galle.
* Tim Southee has taken the most wickets (64) against Sri Lanka among active players.
Quotes:
“Chandimal took up the gloves and played in the middle order for the sake of the team, but he won’t be keeping in this Test, which means he will move up to number three.” – Sri Lanka interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya
“Having just his experience and knowledge of conditions here in this part of the world, and particularly a ground that he had a lot of success on, has been great.” – New Zealand captain Tim Southee on Rangana Herath’s expertise.
