New Zealand v Sri Lanka Dec 21-Jan 26

[admin]

Please, add your thoughts about the two-Test and five-one-day series to this thread. A frank exchange of views is welcome as long as those views aren't trite and designed to irritate - that they are backed up with reasoned argument and/or facts.

Schedule

Date              Match                Venue 
21 Dec 2004       v Central Districts  New Plymouth 
23 Dec            v Northern Districts Hamilton 
26 Dec            1st ODI              Auckland 
27 Dec            Reserve Day  
29 Dec            2nd ODI Napier 
30 Dec            Reserve Day  
2 Jan 2005        3rd ODI              Queenstown 
4 Jan             4th ODI              Christchurch (D/N) 
5 Jan             Reserve Day  
8 Jan             5th ODI              Wellington (D/N) 
9 Jan             Reserve Day  
10-12 Jan         v Auckland           Auckland 
15-19 Jan         1st Test             Hamilton 
22-26 Jan         2nd Test             Wellington

[Zainub]

Hmm, another series in which the one-days are before the tests...I don't quite like this format, and another two test matche series, again a format I'm not the bigest fan of. BTW why are NZ reluctant to play test series any longer than 2 tests against countries from the subccontinent?

Anyway, this should prove to be a interesting series, since both teams have in the recent past not been quite at their best. Although Sri Lanka would one might assume be mentally in a stronger position after having drawn their last series in Pakistan and before that coming back from Australia having lost a three test series 0-1 there as comapared to NZ who lost to Aus 2-0 and before that to England 3-0.

Sri Lanka though have won just 1 test match in NZ if I'm correct, and with their reputation of struggling away from home they will be facing on what will be on paper at least a tough challenge. NZ's conditions suit the type of bowlers they have, the likes of Chris Martin and Daryl Tuffey (if he's fit) don't set the world alight when they bowl else where but at home in the recent past been they have proved to successful bowlers.

On the other hand the likes of Jayasuriya and Sangakkara have scored over 1000 runs this calendar year. And Sri Lanka will be banking on them to contiue their good form into next year. Then there always is the Murali factor. The new regualtions mean Muralitharan will no be able to start bowling his doosra again, and there will be the added incentive of going after and perhaps even capturing, or recapturing as a matter of fact the world record for most test wickets.

Chaminda Vaas, excellent bowler that he is the subcontinent has never quite been as effective elsewhere, Sri Lanka will be hoping their younger brigade of fast bowlers, particularly Lasith Malinga who also impressed in Australia will further enhance their repuatations.

Weather permitting, all in all this should be a good series b/w what are two relatively evenly matched sides. I'd go for a 1-0 win for the home side.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Vaas must have the hardest job in world cricket - open the bowling for SL. At home tracks be be prepered solely with Murali in mind so any pitch conditions will ofen hinder rather than help. But there he is the top 10 bowlers. I dont care much for murali but I hope Vaas has a good series.

[Andy Mellon]

Vaas has a particularly good record in New Zealand. He took 10-90 (5-47/5-43) in his first test at Napier in 94/95 and then scored 51 and took 6-87 in the first innings of the second test in Hamilton - taking the Man of the Match award in both tests. Therefore, he's got 'previous' so to speak and I expect him to outperform Murali in perfect conditions for seam bowlers.

The first test this time is in Hamilton with the second in Wellington. Both of these pitches are ideally suited to seam bowling and Vaas should do well again!

[Mike]

Both Sri Lanka and New Zealand have a lot to play for as far as improving their ICC Test ranking. If SA have a poor series against England then NZ can jump over both SA and SL if they win the series 2-0. On the otherhand, SL can jump over Pakistan if the latter gets flogged by Australia. Sri Lanka looks like a stronger side than when they last toured NZ while NZ look a weaker side so I'll go for Sri Lanka to win 1-0.

[Occasional Fan]

Muralitharan will miss the first part of this tour, his fitness not yet being proven. Cricinfo report here.

[*Ben*]

Well theve timed the test match in wellington just right because u get back from holiday the day before, i actually cant wait to see mirili in real life i cant wait. And a bit of news if you know Nz cricket Shane Bond is recoverin well from his stress fracture in his back and MAY be availible for the tests against SL. I hope he recovers well and can come bak to the form he showd in the world cup

[vvvrulz]

Me too.

What im worried about is the condition of the pitches in NZ. I hope they don't introduce those same ridiculous conditions we saw when the Indians toured. And I would also prefer the ODI coming after the tests.

[R W S]

Shane Bond is a superstar in waiting. He has more talent than Lee of Aus. I see his career mirroring Simon Jones of England. and his terrible injury. I hope he has fully recovered and can pick up where he left off. He is potentially the best quick bowler in world cricket. Good Luck to the man.

[Mr Kiwi]

hmm a lot of good points - i'll see if i can offer some useful comments to some of them . . .

firstly the itinery and the two-test 'series': it sucks i know. partly a product of NZC's (commendable) desire to host two teams every summer and partly a product of NZRFU's (unmentionable) desire to reduce cricket in New Zealand to a mere hobby for nancy boys who can't hack a 'real sport'. rugby season now extends from feb through to nov and, as you are no doubt aware, most grounds in NZ are dual purpose (Carisbrook in Dunedin is now of the itineray as the Otago RFU refused to allow cricket access to the ground).

also - one dayers are played first because a) they attract more crowds over the christmas holiday period, b) as 'that' tour by india showed a few years back the weather is too unstable in dec/jan to guarantee five days cricket - let alone a decent two weeks or so to prepare a pitch.

umm what were other people talking about . . .