New Zealand has a chance to top the Test Cricket when they take on with Sri Lanka in a two-match series on Wednesday. It has been exactly a month, New Zealand is taking on to the Test after a huge defeat in the World Cup 2019 finals.
Currently, New Zealand is ranked 2nd in ICC Men’s Test team ranking with 111 rating with 2547 points in 23 matches. And India has occupied the 1st spot with a rating of 113 and with 3631 points in 32 matches.
Sri Lanka will be wary of providing a rank turning wicket in the first Test in Galle after being outsmarted by England in the most recent encounter at the venue. England overcame the battle with a variety of spinners as the trio of Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, and Jack Leach played a key role in a 3-0 series sweep.
Trent Boult will be the number one pick while they will have to make a choice between Tim Southee and Neil Wagner, possibly the latter, who picked up nine wickets in New Zealand’s last Test match.
“They are a strong team. They will come into this series with a lot of confidence behind them after what happened in South Africa,” – New Zealand coach Gary Stead.
Oshada Fernando played a key role in posting an unbeaten 75 in Port Elizabeth in what was his second Test match. The most disappointing thing is Fernando is going to miss both Tests with the return of Angelo Mathews, who was injured for South Africa.
“New Zealand will be tough to beat. We have got guys who were not part of the series in South Africa, so we have got to make some tough calls,” – Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne.
New Zealand Tour of Sri Lanka will have two test matches on 14th and 22nd of August 2019 and three T20 matches on 1st, 3rd and 6th September 2019 at Pallekele International Stadium.
ODI Squad For New Zealand Vs Sri Lanka:
New Zealand:
Kane Williamson (captain), Jeet Raval, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Todd Astle, William Somerville, Mitchell Santner, Tom Blundell, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, B.J. Watling, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel, Neil Wagner
Sri Lanka:
Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando
Umpire: Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth (England)
Third umpire: Bruce Oxenford (Australia)
Match referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)
