Blackcaps vs Sri Lanka First Test Preview
The Blackcaps vs Sri Lanka Tests may not be as exciting as the recent series against England and yet it will be more important with Sri Lanka serving as a better gauge of Blackcaps Test mahi. This series is also the last for Aotearoa in this World Test Championship cycle and a couple wins would bump them up the ladder.
The kiwis have a 11-2-6 record against Sri Lanka in Aotearoa and the first Test will be played at Hagley Oval where typically kiwi cricket conditions should favour the Blackcaps. Not only do the kiwi bowlers love Christchurch nibble, the batters have excellent Test stats at Hagley Oval...
While Tim Southee and Neil Wagner perform better at Hagley Oval than other grounds in Aotearoa, Matt Henry's the only notable kiwi bowler nudging 30avg at Hagley Oval. This is Henry's home ground though and he has a First-Class bowling average of 24.1, so he will be eager to stamp his mark on a Test in Canterbury. Henry also has two 50+ scores in five Tests in Christchurch.
There is intrigue around Henry Nicholls' mahi as well. Tom Latham is the only Blackcap with more Test runs at Hagley Oval, while Nicholls has a better average at his home ground than Latham, Kane Williamson, BJ Watling and Luteru Taylor.
For the second Test against England, Blackcaps opted for Nicholls and Will Young in the batting line up. This took a bowler out of the mix and the Blackcaps still managed to dismiss England in that final innings with just four bowlers used. Given how effective seamers and Nicholls are in Christchurch, rolling out the same team is the likeliest scenario.
Plunket Shield games flowing and there are plenty of blokes commanding attention with impressive performances. Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi are taking spin wickets while scoring runs, both have compelling cases for selection ahead of Michael Bracewell. These pockets are distractions though as the core group of players in this Blackcaps unit should be good enough to defeat Sri Lanka in Aotearoa.
Blackcaps have five batters with Test averages over 40 and three of them average 50+. Southee and Wagner are elite in Christchurch while Henry is joins this trio as the three best available seamers. Ideally, the competition for 1st 11 spots thanks to Aotearoa's cricketing depth can bring the best out of Nicholls, Young and Bracewell.
If Blackcaps wobble and the extent of possible wobbles vs Sri Lanka will inform folks about any deeper issues. There is no shame in losing to England and for all the doomy-gloom, England is the only team in the last few years with multiple wins over Aotearoa.
For every Test defeat, Blackcaps have a win or a draw in the mix. Blackcaps lots Tests to Bangladesh and South Africa in Aotearoa but also won Tests in both series. Touring Pakistan isn't easy and Blackcaps grabbed two draws, two rare Test results for Aotearoa. Apart from losses to England, Blackcaps haven't imploded or become easy-beats. After being bullied by England they were still able to salvage their mana on a grand Basin Reserve stage.
Doom and gloom is evident in lots of Blackcaps coverage right now. We know that Blackcaps haven't dominated this WTC cycle because kiwi cricketing legends are no longer playing and yet there is still a core group of cricketers who should be able to defeat Sri Lanka. This could be a delightful way to finish the summer after Blackcaps spent part of the season in Pakistan and got caught up in the whirlwind series vs England.
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Peace and love.