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

[JJ]

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

I said that before, he'll get the tests at home, and likely score some brutal runs against rubbish attacks, and won't need to bowl much - will be left wondering what to make of it.

They won't drop Raval or Latham IMO

 

[Meth]

I said that before, he'll get the tests at home, and likely score some brutal runs against rubbish attacks, and won't need to bowl much - will be left wondering what to make of it.

They won't drop Raval or Latham IMO

Yeah, I really doubt they'll drop Latham. Raval is the only one in the top 5 whose position is in any danger. So yeah, I highly doubt Young will get a run in the first Test at least.

 

[Sphagnum]

As long as dickwella is playing. He has the best name in world sport.

 

[JJ]

As long as dickwella is playing. He has the best name in world sport.

He's the highlight, but as is often the case the Sri Lankan squad is a treasure trove for Billy Birmingham...

 

[Meth]

XI named

New Zealand: 1 Jeet Raval, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 BJ Watling (wk), 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Neil Wagner, 10 Ajaz Patel, 11 Trent Boult

 

[Meth]

NZ win the toss and bowl

 

[Meth]

Hopefully Southee and Boult will relish the change from those Asian wicket and get the ball talking

 

[Meth]

Southee strikes. He's looking bloody good. Traps Gunathilaka lbw.

5/1

 

[Meth]

Southee on fire. Now he nabs De Silva, caught behind.

7/2

Southee 2-0

 

[Iafeta]

Southee is bowling beautifully. By my word. Kusal Mendis should not be playing test cricket with such a lack of regard for batsmanship. That is one of the softest dismissals you will ever see.

 

[Meth]

Mendis coughs up his wicket. Very, very soft. As awful as you'll ever see.

Southee picks up his 3rd.

Sri Lanka 9/3

 

[Meth]

Southee is bowling beautifully. By my word. Kusal Mendis should not be playing test cricket with such a lack of regard for batsmanship. That is one of the softest dismissals you will ever see.

Maybe he rated his chances of Raval spilling it.

 

[Meth]

Matthews pushed up the order.

 

[Meth]

Boult is wayward

 

[Meth]

And you Aussies thought your top 5 had issues.

 

[Iafeta]

I thought on the first two dismissals they were beaten by outstanding bowling. But that Mendis one is just disgraceful stuff.

 

[Meth]

Sri Lanka's 2 best bats are at 5 and 6. Matthews and Chandimal. Matthews seems to be a 'feast or famine' type of player, so the more pressure on him the better.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Apparently we could jump to no2 in the test rankings if we win both tests. Just in time for India to refuse playing a test match in NZ.

 

[Meth]

Last Test series we played against Sri Lanka was at this time of the year 3 years ago. Won a 2 match series 2-0.

And bloody Martin Guptill was opening. Scored 156 in the first match and didn't fare too badly overall.

 

[JJ]

Really good start, obviously one dismissal was junk, and now they're batting pretty well.

Basin really is a bowl and rock them early place. Batting conditions are going to get good.

Wagner will be important later