1st Test: New Zealand v Sri Lanka at Wellington, Dec 15-19 2018 - MATCH DRAWN

[Meth]

A two test series, NZ would do well to win.

Who drops out? Who comes in?

 

[Meth]

Sri Lanka Test Squad:

Dinesh Chandimal(c), Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep, Dimuth Karunaratne

 

[JJ]

A two test series, NZ would do well to win.

Who drops out? Who comes in?

f**k two test series, so frustrating

We should win, they'll probably give CDG a chance at home, so Wagner in for a spinner and nothing else until Santner is fit?

 

[Meth]

Can we assume it's a 15 man squad, to be named?

Somerville and Patel have given us a bit of a problem, really. To me, they were really only taken over there as back up for Sodhi and Astle in spin-friendly conditions, but their performances are hard to ignore.

Can't carry that many spinners in the side though

 

[Meth]

I think you might think I'm a bit crazy here, but this is what I'd go for-

BLACKCAPS Test Squad
Kane Williamson (c)
Trent Boult
Colin de Grandhomme
Matt Henry
Tom Latham
Henry Nicholls
Tim Southee
Ross Taylor
Neil Wagner
BJ Watling
Doug Bracewell
Hamish Rutherford
Ajaz Patel
Will Somerville
Dean Brownlie

 

[JJ]

I think you might think I'm a bit crazy here, but this is what I'd go for-

BLACKCAPS Test Squad
Kane Williamson (c)
Trent Boult
Colin de Grandhomme
Matt Henry
Tom Latham
Henry Nicholls
Tim Southee
Ross Taylor
Neil Wagner
BJ Watling
Doug Bracewell
Hamish Rutherford
Ajaz Patel
Will Somerville
Dean Brownlie

You know full well Raval will be there. Brownlie definitely a better option IMO

If Astle is fit he might sneak in, but only one spinner will play, personally I have no idea who that should be

Larsen loves Blundell so he'll likely be in the squad for no sensible reason

Bracewell and Neesham could be vlose to edging out Colin, Neesh clearly the best bat and his catching is great.

Given they won this series I expect a predictable playing group and one WTF squad member

 

[TheParraboy]

A two test series, NZ would do well to win.

Who drops out? Who comes in?

You should win 2-0 quite easily, SL are gonski, hell we should be able to touch them up in our 2 test series late Jan 2019 (one is a d/n match at the GABBA)

Cant believe no tests v India after this, but there is 5 x ODI and 3 x T20s to get excited about...

 

[Meth]

3 x T20s to get excited about...

 

[TheParraboy]

f**k two test series, so frustrating

We should win, they'll probably give CDG a chance at home, so Wagner in for a spinner and nothing else until Santner is fit?

I think these days when SL or WI are touring a 2 test series is one test too long in my opinion unfortunately

You should belt them 2-0, cant see the point of a 3rd test belting

 

[AlwaysGreen]

NZ should flog Sri Lanka, they are Australia standard woeful.

 

[Timbo]

Dean Brownlie is still a thing?

How frustrating are two-test series. All about those Indian TV dollars unfortunately.

NZ should win it pretty easily. Sri Lanka are at their weakest in thirty years.

 

[Meth]

Dean Brownlie is still a thing?

No, not really.

 

[WaznTheGreat]

NZ got dis

 

[Meth]

Sri Lanka are in the middle of a 3 day match against a NZ XI

The declared at 210/9 (with Matthews scoring 128 and nobody else scoring many). The NZ XI posted 270/8, declaring and now Sri Lanka are 160/2. No International's cricketers in the XI

 

[Meth]

Squad is in-

Black Caps Test Squad

Kane Williamson (c)
Trent Boult
Colin de Grandhomme
Matt Henry
Tom Latham
Henry Nicholls
Ajaz Patel
Jeet Raval
Tim Southee
Ross Taylor
Neil Wagner
BJ Watling
Will Young

Somerville, Sodhi and Blundell out

 

[Meth]

So, I wonder what role they foresee for Young. Might see him opening?

Latham
Young
Williamson (c)
Taylor
Nicholls
Waitling
de Grandhomme
Southee
Wagner
Patel
Boult

 

[JJ]

So, I wonder what role they foresee for Young. Might see him opening?

Latham
Young
Williamson (c)
Taylor
Nicholls
Waitling
de Grandhomme
Southee
Wagner
Patel
Boult

Likely only there as back-up - which is a shame - personally I'd bat him at 6 and forgo the "all-rounder"

 

[Meth]

I feel like de Grandhomme goes good in NZ with the ball (and well enough with the bat).

 

[Meth]

I'd rather somebody else, but I'll take de Grandhomme over Raval right now.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Don't know much about Will Young, but his first class record has that Stephen Fleming look about it. Average in the 40's but a really shabby 50's to 100's ratio.