CHRISTCHURCH - A record fourth successive series win is the focus for Kane Williamson’s New Zealand as the winner-takes-all Boxing Day Test versus Sri Lanka gets underway on December 26 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.
The draw in Wellington denied New Zealand the chance to leap to second in the ICC Test rankings for the first time, and now Williamson’s team will back themselves to beat Sri Lanka after their coach, Gary Stead, called on curators to prepare friendlier surfaces. Past New Zealand teams have won three series in a row, but never four. A win will make Williamson New Zealand’s third most successful Test captain.
After taking a lead of 296 courtesy Tom Latham’s monumental unbeaten 264, New Zealand reduced Sri Lanka to 20/3 by stumps on day three at Basin Reserve but were thwarted by an epic rearguard partnership of 274 between centurions Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews on a wicketless fourth day, before rain on the last day rescued the visitors.
Sri Lanka will have taken plenty from that result, and now need to brace for a fightback from the hosts at a venue where the bowlers are expected to have more help. Christchurch has had plenty of rain in the last month, but Hagley Oval’s head groundsman says the venue is fine for Boxing Day.
“We’re very proud of our home record and I guess that’s one of the challenges for us now. It’s a one-off test match where the series is on the line,” said Craig McMillan. “We got so much confidence from that game for this game. If we get some movement here our bowlers will do the job and they know what areas they must bowl at. Unlike in the subcontinent we have to bowl fuller here,” said Niroshan Dickwella.
The Hagley Oval wicket traditionally offers pace and bounce and both New Zealand and Sri Lanka voiced the importance of winning the toss and bowling first. Neither side has finalised its playing XI, and while changes are unlikely, the emphasis for the fast bowlers could be less on the short-pitched deliveries New Zealand used to pound Sri Lanka with in Wellington. The last time New Zealand and Sri Lanka played at Hagley Oval, in the 2014 Boxing Day Test, the tourists won the toss and bowled first only for New Zealand to win by eight wickets. The pace trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner and one spinner in Ajaz Patel look to be repeated, which means that Matt Henry will once again sit out. Two single-digit scores for Danushka Gunathilaka could put Lahiru Thirimanne back in the XI. Dhananjaya de Silva also failed, scoring 0 and 1, but his place appears certain given his recent success. Kasun Rajitha bowled 34 wicketless overs in Wellington, going at 4.23 runs per over. His place could go to Dushmantha Chameera.
NEW ZEALAND: Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Ajaz Patel, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Trent Boult.
SRI LANKA: Danushka Gunathilaka/Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal.