New Zealand v Sri Lanka: Pacers raring to set green top alight

Seam-friendly pitch delights both teams’ fast-bowlers for first Test

CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand and Sri Lanka are expecting a paceman's paradise when their two-Test series starts in Christchurch on Friday.

Aside from the prestige of a Test match, the first in eight years in the earthquake-ravaged city, it also serves as an opportunity for both sides to fine tune ahead of the looming World Cup.

The World Cup squads are due to be finalised on January 8, a day after the second Test ends.

Even as the Sri Lankans settled into lodgings in the main South Island city, they were alerted to its earthquake risk when a magnitude 4.0 quake struck on Wednesday, followed by several aftershocks.

With the former home of cricket in Christchurch, Lancaster Park, destroyed in the 2011 quakes which claimed 185 lives, a new venue was purpose built at Hagley Oval and quickly developed a reputation in domestic cricket for producing a result.

Seamer Neil Wagner said the bowlers have been told the Test pitch is the same as the net wickets. "And the nets played pretty good,” said Wagner. “It was nice and quick and had a bit of bounce to it, so it definitely excited all of the bowlers."

Sri Lanka arrived in New Zealand with a relatively inexperienced squad and admitting the series had an important role in their World Cup preparations where they face New Zealand at Hagley Oval in the opening match on February 14.

"We know whom we want in our 15 except for one or two places, which we hope to fill during the Test series," said head coach Marvan Atapattu.

The nature of the pitch has also impressed the Sri Lankans whose bowling mainstay of recent years, left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, will miss this Test because of a leg injury.

"As a seamer you are overjoyed when you see tracks like what you have here, because you don't get that in Sri Lanka," said bowling coach Chaminda Vaas.

However, a lack of experience could count against the Sri Lankans with 11 of the 16 players in their squad having played fewer than 20 Tests.

 

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