***Official*** Sri Lanka in New Zealand 2015

[Kippax]

Cricket: Santner keeps his spot for Sri Lanka series - Sport - NZ Herald News

There's a familiar look to the Black Caps test squad to play Sri Lanka in the two match series this month.

All 12 players named by Black Caps Coach Mike Hesson were part of the squad in the recent tour of Australia, including Adelaide debutant Mitchell Santner.

Santner performed well with both bat and ball in his opening test and Hesson said he thoroughly deserved the opportunity to continue showing his skills during the home summer.

"The level of composure Mitchell showed on debut was very impressive and he certainly displayed how exciting a player he is with both the bat and ball," said Hesson.

"His ability to bat in the top six and bowl good overs gives us options and assists the team balance. We're looking forward to watching Mitchell's continued development."

Hesson said Wagner had earned his way into the 12 and also showed confidence in Mark Craig and Martin Guptill to perform in the upcoming series.

"Neil impressed in Australia and not only showed that he'll run in hard all day, but was swinging the ball again.

"Mark and Martin didn't perform to the level they would have liked over in Australia, but both have shown in the past what they're capable of and we're confident they'll make valuable contributions in the upcoming series.

"We think it's a strong squad, but equally we've got a group of players on the fringe of selection who are ready to be called upon if necessary.

Allrounders Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham were not available for selection due to fitness, while Matt Henry, Luke Ronchi and Hamish Rutherford will return to their domestic sides.




Wagner was also named in the President's XI to face Sri Lanka in a warm-up match in Queenstown beginning on Thursday, alongside a predominantly youthful side captained by Canterbury's Ryan McCone.

Black Caps test squad:

Brendon McCullum (captain)
Trent Boult
Doug Bracewell
Mark Craig
Martin Guptill
Tom Latham
Mitchell Santner
Tim Southee
Ross Taylor
Neil Wagner
BJ Watling
Kane Williamson

President's XI

Ryan McCone (c) (Canterbury Kings)
James Baker (SKYCITY Northern Knights)
Joe Carter (SKYCITY Northern Knights)
Joel Harden (Devon Hotel Central Stags)
Shawn Hicks (Mondiale Auckland Aces)
Tim Johnston (Canterbury Kings)
Ken McClure (Canterbury Kings)
Matt McEwan (Mighty Ape Wellington Firebirds)
Glenn Phillips (Mondiale Auckland Aces)
Bharat Popli (SKYCITY Northern Knights)
Ben Smith (Devon Hotel Central Stags)
Blair Tickner (Devon Hotel Central Stags)
Neil Wagner (SBS Otago Volts)

 

[Hurricane]

I was just working on an OP for this will post it here as the 2nd post

Warm Up
3-5 December NZ Cricket Board President’s XI vs Sri Lanka – Queenstown

TESTS
10th-14th December 1st test University Oval Dunedin
18th-22 December – 2nd test Seddon Park Hamilton

ODIs
26th December – 1st ODI Hagley Oval CHCH
28th December – 2nd ODI Hagley Oval CHCH
31 December – 3rd ODI Saxton Oval Nelson
2nd January – 4th ODI Saxton Oval Nelson
5th January – 5th ODI Bay Oval the Mount

Hit and Giggles
7th January – 1st T20i – Bay Oval the Mount
10th January – 2nd T20i – Eden Park the Big Smoke

Sri Lanka Team

Test squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Kusal Mendis, Udara Jayasundera, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Jeffrey Vandersay

Uncapped Jayasundera picked for NZ Tests | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

New Zealand team ranking 6th 95 points
Sri Lanka team ranking 7th 93 points

Some of the Key Players in the Series

Can he fill big shoes?

Can he lead the bowling?

Can he build from his debut?

Can he dip his average below 30?

 

[Bahnz]

Henry right back down the pecking order then.

Good to see some decent players in that President's XI - though the whole XI is probably still only barely FC standard. Was a bit embarassing seeing genuine patsy sides being put up against touring teams in the hope of catching them cold in the first test in recent seasons.

 

[Bahnz]

Oh as for predictions: 2-0 to NZ barring rain. Herath to toil in conditions that offer him less than nothing. Matthews to be a lone beacon of hope for SRL fans. Southee and Boult to feast following their recent famine. Guppers to smack a ton at some point and save his skin for another series or two.

 

[Kippax]

Could Santner yet be the 12th man though, with both the Uni Oval regulars Wagner and Craig given a run.

"Neil impressed in Australia and not only showed that he'll run in hard all day, but was swinging the ball again."

His chances were helped by Hesson's plea for home test series pitches for Sri Lanka and Australia to be green and pace friendly this summer.

"I think our pitches need to be green to keep pace in them with the clay we use. If we go in with something that looks a bit dry then it tends to turn into a bit of a dead duck. We certainly like to keep the game moving with a wicket that's got a bit of pace and bounce," Hesson said.

 

[Hurricane]

"Mark and Martin didn't perform to the level they would have liked over in Australia, but both have shown in the past what they're capable of and we're confident they'll make valuable contributions in the upcoming series.

I would say the starting XI in both tests will be the same as Adelaide. Based on the above sentence. Craig will play. Wagner won't.

Which dissapoints me. I would have preferred for a 4 man seam attack plus a holding spinner.

As for Martin being kept in the team. Very predictable. There was no one putting their hand up who they fancied.

Wonder how hard Astle is going to have to knock at the door.

 

[Bahnz]

Just realised neither test is at the Basin. Sacrilege!

 

[Hurricane]

Just realised neither test is at the Basin. Sacrilege!

Dunedin means another 4 day test. Even if it is true that it only rains down there during tests.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

Looking forward to seeing Mathews again. I don't think I appreciated how good he was last time SL were here because it was all about Sangakkara.

 

[Cabinet96]

I know I literally just made a thread defending two test series and criticising this kind of logic, but they should've scrapped a couple of ODIs and added a 3rd test given the 2-7 split last year.

 

[Hurricane]

I know I literally just made a thread defending two test series and criticising this kind of logic, but they should've scrapped a couple of ODIs and added a 3rd test given the 2-7 split last year.

Agreed. I would be surprised if we don't win the ODIs 5-0.

 

[Kippax]

You try not to give those Basin Reserve people a Boxing Day Test, Cabinet. It risks looking really good on telly and people will be fooled into thinking the tradition is coming back.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Could Santner yet be the 12th man though, with both the Uni Oval regulars Wagner and Craig given a run.

Pretty fragile batting if that is the case -with an out of form Watling at 6 and Craig slogging at 7.

Really hope they pick Santner and four quicks - slightly better batting and much more controlled bowling.

 

[Kippax]

It is a Sri Lankan attack at Uni Oval though. Boult and Southee can get so listless that a Darren Sammy figure could make important runs against them down there, and as Cane said, you could be trying to beat the rain.

 

[Hurricane]

Pretty fragile batting if that is the case -with an out of form Watling at 6 and Craig slogging at 7.

Really hope they pick Santner and four quicks - slightly better batting and much more controlled bowling.

If NZ is going to pick a spin bowling all rounder - then they are going to have to have a long hard think about carrying a specialist spinner as well. From a team balance perspective.

I do think Craig will play though - he seems to have mega credits in the bank and his buy in to the express yourself batting philosophy is probably a point in his favour with McHesson (even though it dissapoints CW).

 

[straw man]

Didn't realise the first test vs Sri Lanka was as soon as next week - had just imagined I'd have to do without until ODIs after Xmas.

So was always likely to be the same squad given the lack of time and PS matches between series.

Agree with NZT's post in the other thread that if Guptill doesn't score runs in the first test they really need to think about Brownlie for the second test. Am certain they won't though - if/when Guptill runs out of credit we'll be doomed to Rutherford slashing boundaries between and over the six fielders behind point until he runs out of luck, again and again and again.

 

[Skyliner]

Really interested to see how Ben Smith goes for the Presidents XI.
4 hundreds & 10 fifties in 28 first class matches. Avg 43.25 , top score 244.

 

[Skyliner]

New Zealand keep faith in Guptill, Craig | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

Hesson said. "Neil impressed in Australia and not only showed that he'll run in hard all day, but was swinging the ball again."

Sounds like a real threat! Running in hard, getting it to swing!! Weapon!!

 

[Hurricane]

Well I think Kippax's post has really stifled any speculative conversations here. New Zealand naming its 12 for the series really does cut out all conjecture.

I guess my thoughts are at this point. I really really really hope that the Southee and Boult get rested for at least the first three ODIs and possibly all of them.

There is an argument to be made that we lost the series in Australia due to Boults injury through over bowling in England.

Rest. Recuperation.

My bowling line up for the ODIs would be

McLeakin Runs
Milne
Bracwell
Corey
Santner
Elliot

Throw Wheeler into the mix for a game or two as well.

 

[Kippax]

Really interested to see how Ben Smith goes for the Presidents XI.
4 hundreds & 10 fifties in 28 first class matches. Avg 43.25 , top score 244.