*Official* New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2019

[Maximas]

Interesting tour, SL coming off the win in SA but last time at home was routed by England.

From the SA tour, there's not much to go on, Lakmal could be the only seamer depending on what sort of pitches they put out, no idea who the spinners will be - Sandakan, Akila and Perera have been hopeless lately and I don't think Embuldeniya has played since the finger injury in SA.

Batting wise obviously Dimuth at the top, BOP Fernando and Mendis would remain at 3 and 4, Kusal Perera slots in the middle somewhere and then that leaves only 2 spots for a returning Matthews and either DdS and Dickwella to fill, meanwhile surely Thirimanne can't be persisted with so the 2nd opener is there for the taking. Everyone might shift up for it, DdS (who opens for his club team iirc) might go up, or Avishka Fernando may be drafted in, really don't know at this stage.

Oh and can't forget about Chandimal either, no idea where he stands currently

Dimuth
DdS/A Fernando?
BOP Fernando
Mendis
Matthews
Perera
Dickwella
Lakmal
Akila/Sandakan?
Vishwa Fernando?
Embuldeniya?

 

[SteveNZ]

I was never much of a fan, but started loving him when he because captain and suddenly became a test match double hundred machine.

Reading his book after he retired my estimations went downhill though. Thought he went way over the top with a somewhat crazed vendetta against Taylor in it. Can’t wait to read Taylor’s book for the return serve.

I don't think Ross will do that. For a start, I don't think he's destined for a role in the media. He has no persona to grow. Secondly, he has no position to defend. Brendon, for some reason, seemed to want to tell us all his side and save face - even though he retired as a god in the eyes of most. 99.9% people felt Ross was treated poorly and therefore he's got no motivation to fuel that. Brendon's book is not fresh in anyone's mind either. Ross just isn't someone who cares a hell of a lot about what people think, I wouldn't say. Certainly not the Ross Taylor he is today.

Ross would never have been a good NZ captain, he was a real tea pot merchant who inspired no confidence in his bowlers and didn't have a lot of leadership qualities in a group, apart from lead by example. Never excuses the **** way he was treated by Hesson particularly, and it's a credit to Ross that he stuck with it when the lure to toss the toys in and become a hired gun elsewhere would've been hot, and the public might have forgiven him for it.

 

[Isura]

Just to remind everyone what our test team looks like - and who I think should be there

Raval
Latham
Kane
Ross
Nicholls
BJ
CDG or Neesh
Two of Santner/Somerville/Ajaz

Wagner
Boult

Wouldn’t take Sodhi or Astle. Don’t rate either of them at this stage to take wickets or keep it tight.

Take Southee as spare fast bowler. With Neesh and CDG there, I expect we’ll have seam bowling covered.

Then do they take a spare batsman, or does Neesham cover that and Nicholls can open? Since they can’t take Young who’s obviously next cab off the rank now.

Let’s get this World Test Championship off to a good start and get our butts back to Lords!

Seems light on spinners. First test is Galle. But I guess NZ have **** spinners anyways, all the best.

 

[Kippax]

Always felt Galle could be a nice venue for Ajaz, a shame he's presumably going to come into this series so short of overs under his belt.

Dilruwan Perera: "Every spinner likes to bowl in Galle. I get a lot of drift here.

Rabada's 8/94 and particularly the bounce-out wickets at 9:35 and 14:40 will be of some surprise and interest to NZ -

 

[Flem274*]

ajaz is probably our most subcontinentish bowler so he should play imo. our spin stocks are dangerous in the right conditions so we should rotate according to the pitch/country.

 

[Kippax]

ajaz is probably our most subcontinentish bowler so he should play imo. our spin stocks are dangerous in the right conditions so we should rotate according to the pitch/country.

There he is, he's been a Jeets-style bargain for Cranleigh CC. Good work Ajaz.

 

[Jezroy]

Seems light on spinners. First test is Galle. But I guess NZ have **** spinners anyways, all the best.

I think 2 spinners and Kane if required will be enough if that’s what it comes down to. But I guess we wait and see what the pitches look like, and what sort of form our spinners are in coming from our winter.

But just in case one of our spinners does a Paul Wiseman in Sri Lanka 1997/98, or even Ajaz/Somerville from last year in the UAE, I will keep this post in mind.

 

[Jezroy]

ajaz is probably our most subcontinentish bowler so he should play imo. our spin stocks are dangerous in the right conditions so we should rotate according to the pitch/country.

Bring back Jeets and play 2 Patels. What a dream for Athlai.

 

[Athlai]

I don’t particularly like Ajaz

 

[Kippax]

I don’t particularly like Ajaz

Well you could well be in luck, because I get the feeling the scrupulously accurate pitch maps of an accountancy/fantasy sports nerd taking it away from left-handers (Somerville) paired with a Thunderbirds character with an engineering degree doing it to right-handers (Santner) is probably the stuff of a Kane Williamson dream.

 

[Bahnz]

Disappointing that Will Young is out of action, would have definitely toured otherwise. If for whatever reason one of the top 5 has to be replaced, I'd play Watling as specialist batsman and get Blundell in. Would like to see him get as much exposure given that Watling is 34 and possibly at the tail-end of his career.

My guess would be that Watling (probably like Taylor) is targetting the World Test Championship final as a fairwell, and with that in mind I think it's fair to stick with him as the keeper for now.

 

[mr_mister]

CDG has already played way too many clutch innings in the test side to be dropped imo. And in recent times it's been nice to have someone in your SC touring team who just hits boundaries rather than scratching around for 20 off 60 before copping something unplayable. I know he's meant to be ass against leggies but SL are mainly offies right?

 

[Jezroy]

I don’t particularly like Ajaz

But two Patel’s? Patel from each end? C’mon...

 

[Jezroy]

Well you could well be in luck, because I get the feeling the scrupulously accurate pitch maps of an accountancy/fantasy sports nerd taking it away from left-handers (Somerville) paired with a Thunderbirds character with an engineering degree doing it to right-handers (Santner) is probably the stuff of a Kane Williamson dream.

Wet dream.

 

[Jezroy]

CDG has already played way too many clutch innings in the test side to be dropped imo. And in recent times it's been nice to have someone in your SC touring team who just hits boundaries rather than scratching around for 20 off 60 before copping something unplayable. I know he's meant to be ass against leggies but SL are mainly offies right?

Ass against real pace too re. Jofra

 

[mr_mister]

Well SL are sorely lacking in that department as well.

But honestly if it wasn't for two dog declarations he would likely be the owner of 3 of the top 10 fastest test hundreds ever (instead of just 1) which to me is quite fascinating

 

[Jezroy]

Well SL are sorely lacking in that department as well.

But honestly if it wasn't for two dog declarations he would likely be the owner of 3 of the top 10 fastest test hundreds ever (instead of just 1) which to me is quite fascinating

Gee that’s a good point. He’s actually had some really good test match performances amongst the UAE (mostly) disaster.

 

[mr_mister]

Yeah. I truly believe unless you're KW or Smith 'digging in' in the SC is no longer the way to go. Mitch Marsh had more success than our other lesser bats by just looking to hit and keep hitting on our last tour to SL

 

[Flem274*]

nicholls and watling dug in in the uae with success. it's doable if your technique is up to scratch.

less so runs wise with watling, but the partnerships were crucial. ****in slow, but crucial.

i don't think lord colin is bad against pace. we've played south africa and the like often enough with him in the team to have found out. i don't think he could pick the difference between the slower and faster bouncer though.

 

[morgieb]

Yeah. I truly believe unless you're KW or Smith 'digging in' in the SC is no longer the way to go. Mitch Marsh had more success than our other lesser bats by just looking to hit and keep hitting on our last tour to SL

Nah, compare how we batted against SL to how we batted against India. The latter was a significantly more conservative approach and Australia did a lot better. Only on substandard pitches is your approach viable.