Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series

First of two tests kicks off today at the brilliant time of 4:30PM so weather permitting we'll have some decent test cricket to watch in the evenings.

Looks like it's going to turn so both sides are looking at 3x spin options.

Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), 7 Kusal Mendis (wk), 8 Ramesh Mendis, 9 Prabath Jayasuriya, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Lahiru Kumara

Much of New Zealand's playing XI picks itself, with part-time spin options aplenty to support Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel. There are only question marks over the second seam option alongside Tim Southee.

New Zealand (probable): 1 Tom Latham, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Glenn Phillips, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Tim Southee (capt), 10 Matt Henry/Ben Sears/Will O'Rourke, 11 Ajaz Patel.

Looks like quite a bit of rain forecast. Winning the toss and batting first is going to be critical on a pitch that will likely break up on days 4 and 5.

Pretty tough to gauge any sort of form for the boys from the last test given not one single ball was bowled so hard to say how this will go.

I wonder if Rangana Herath is a good secret weapon for us ?

Here is my first test team…….

Latham
Conway
KW
Ravindra
Mitchell
Blundell
Phillips
Santner
Henry
Southee
Patel

I can’t find room for two bits and bobs part rounders so Bracewell misses out to Santner. Unlucky given I think I picked him in my team vs Afghanistan but there you go.

Great minds, we both posted the same thread at the same time. Mods please merge

The theory of wanting to turn it away is always interesting to me. Particularly in test cricket, if it is turning big, I've always thought the ball turning in at the stumps is surely a bigger danger - particularly in Asia for LBWs. I think it ultimately comes down to how good of a bowler they think Bracewell is, because Phillips should be a lock (at 6 ffs) because of his batting.

@frugby said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

The theory of wanting to turn it away is always interesting to me. Particularly in test cricket, if it is turning big, I've always thought the ball turning in at the stumps is surely a bigger danger - particularly in Asia for LBWs. I think it ultimately comes down to how good of a bowler they think Bracewell is, because Phillips should be a lock (at 6 ffs) because of his batting.

Yeah will be interesting where Phillips/Blundell bat and in what order cos the latter cannot buy a fucken run of late.

Lost the toss... bugger

That Sri Lankan anthem is heinous. . It’s supposed to be an anthem, not a 3 minute sing along ‍️

Bugger, my team was one out.

O’Rourke in for Henry.

harsh call.

EDIT: Just checked the score, GREAT call !

Good call for the selectors at 33/2

Southee gets Chandimal.

Very evenly poised.

Life in the old boy yet, wicket 381.

My boy Phillips !!!!

So much to love about him as a cricketer. Shot son !

@MN5 said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

Southee gets Chandimal.

Very evenly poised.

Life in the old boy yet, wicket 381.

he's exceeded my expectations already!

@MN5 said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

My boy Phillips !!!!

So much to love about him as a cricketer. Shot son !

I'm with you, but it was a bad drop he put in. Just went the wrong way and it cost him.

@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

@MN5 said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

My boy Phillips !!!!

So much to love about him as a cricketer. Shot son !

I'm with you, but it was a bad drop he put in. Just went the wrong way and it cost him.

Best all rounder in the world

Disclaimer. Actually 18th according to ratings, just behind Nathan ‘has never even managed a test 50’ Lyon

@MN5 said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

@MN5 said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

My boy Phillips !!!!

So much to love about him as a cricketer. Shot son !

I'm with you, but it was a bad drop he put in. Just went the wrong way and it cost him.

Best all rounder in the world

Disclaimer. Actually 18th according to ratings, just behind Nathan ‘has never even managed a test 50’ Lyon

he keeps getting better!

BCs on top. Waiting for the rapid collapse when it's our turn to bat... If Satnav gets this much turn we will be fooked when it's our turn

I don't think we're on top at all, we would have wanted to bowl them out for 200 or less given we have to bat last. If Sri Lanka get 350+ this becomes a very difficult test.

A very insipid final session of Day One from the bowlers so far. A sobering reminder of how middle of the road our spin bowling options really are...

@canefan that’s a big yeah nah…..

@Donsteppa indeed. Hardly Jadeja or Ashwin are they ?

That is the stupidest review I've seen. Even by Southee and Blundell's already low standards

An edge to Sri Lanka at 302/7.

If we can wrap this up nice and early we’re doing ok, if these guys build a niggly partnership far less so.

It’s always a worry when the most effective spin bowler isn’t really a full time spin bowler.

Santner back to his old ways by the looks of things.

Will O’Rourke continues to impress, very important with Jamieson constantly breaking down and Wags and Boult out to pasture.

@MN5 agree about the spinner. The Lankan spinners will carve us up

That’s a solid start

I think we did reasonably well, and Mendis showed that there are not loads of demons in the pitch. Problem for us now, is even if we bowl them out for 350, we still are going to need a pretty extensive lead. Wouldn't want to be chasing more than 180 in the fourth innings, so working backwards, what do we need?

Parity is essential, a 50 run lead preferrable, a 100 run lead and the match is likely ours I would think? The trouble is, I don't see a huge score in our future, because in these conditions you need everyone contributing as SL pretty much had.

Perfect start - all out, only added an extra 3 runs, another 5fer for O'Rourke. Sri Lanka are ahead, but some good focused application can get us on top here.

O’Rourke with all the 5s……I would have chosen Henry so nice to be proven completely wrong. Shame he didn’t get just a bit more support.

Conway well overdue a score.

Fucken rain !

@Cyclops said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

Perfect start - all out, only added an extra 3 runs, another 5fer for O'Rourke. Sri Lanka are ahead, but some good focused application can get us on top here.

Cue the collapse then...

We’re back on.

20/0.

Gosh the ground is picturesque, what a beautiful spot

Latham looking good, Conway scratchy.

Good to get a 50 partnership up

59/0

Conway goooone.

Looked a good shout initially

@MN5 said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

Latham looking good, Conway scratchy.

Good to get a 50 partnership up

59/0

This is all your fault.

Doesn’t get much worse than that from Conway, played all round it.

In Kane We Trust

@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

In Kane We Trust

Apparently his average at this ground is 3.5, lets hope he can increase that by a large amount.

@LABCAT said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

In Kane We Trust

Apparently his average at this ground is 3.5.

3.5.

So far.

@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

@MN5 said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

Latham looking good, Conway scratchy.

Good to get a 50 partnership up

59/0

This is all your fault.

Well I did say he was scratchy. I’ve done nothing wrong

@LABCAT said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

In Kane We Trust

Apparently his average at this ground is 3.5, lets hope he can increase that by a large amount.

Strange, but true!

Obvoiusly rising as he scores runs

@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

@LABCAT said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

@nzzp said in Black Caps v Sri Lanka Test Series:

3.5.

So far.

didn't read through the thread and thought 3/5 was out batting score and was about to vent

now Im pleasantly surprised

Love me some late cuts from Kano. What a player.