SL vs NZ Dream11 Prediction for 1st Test: Preview| NZ has declared Playing XI

SL vs NZ Dream11 Prediction for 1^st Test: Preview| NZ has declared Playing XI

Hello and Welcome to our preview for Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test match. We are covering SL vs NZ Dream11 Prediction, Preview and Probable Playing XI for the first Test match. The match is to be played at the Basin Reserve, Wellington.

This will be an enticing tour if Sri Lanka manages to put up some fight. It is a short and sweet tour of 2 Tests, 3 ODIs and 1 T20I before Sri Lanka visits Australia. Both the teams are coming into this tour with a contrasting mindset and it all begins with the first Test tomorrow.

Host New Zealand is back from the historic desert tour against Pakistan. They clinched an away series win against Pakistan after 49 years and emerged victorious by 2-1. Kane Williamson was the stand-out batsman while Henry Nicholls performed remarkably well. The spinners played a great role in UAE, now back at home the pair of Southee and Boult will be raring to go.

Sri Lankan team has actually produced a few very good results in Test cricket but all their success has been marred by the result at home. They defeated South Africa with ease but were whitewashed by England. The 3-0 loss and Herath’s retirement make Sri Lanka look weaker than they are. They do have a good seaming attack but it’s their batting that will need to step up.

When and Where:

SL vs NZ, First Test, Sri Lanka on tour of New Zealand, 2018-19
Basin Reserve, Wellington
15th – 19th December 2018, Saturday, 3:30 AM IST

Venue details:

The reports convey that New Zealand has dished out a green-top at the Basin Reserve. It should come as no surprise as the Sri Lankan batsmen will struggle to adapt to these conditions. The average first inning score here is 309 while teams get to 316 in their second innings on average.

Squads:

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

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

Team News:

New Zealand:

New Zealand has announced their playing XI beforehand.

Spinner Will Somerville misses out and has been replaced by Neil Wagner to bolster the pace attack.

Jeet Raval and Tom Latham will open the inning. Williamson-Taylor-Nicholls form the middle order. Watling handles the keeping duty.

Colin De Grandhomme takes the all-rounder spot. Ajaz Patel is the lone spinner. Boult-Southee-Wagner is the pace attack.

Sri Lanka:

Vice-captain Dimuth Karunaratne is expected to open the batting alongside D Gunathilaka who scored 83 in the practice match.

Chandimal makes his return to the team and will be the captain. He and Angelo Mathews will be the leading batsmen in the middle order that includes Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya De Silva.

Niroshan Dickwella will be the wicketkeeper while the off-spinner Dilruwan Perera will be the lone spinner.

Lahiru Kumara and Suranga Lakmal will be the frontline seam combination. The third seamer is a tossup between D Chameera and K Rajitha.

Probable Playing XI:

NZ:
Jeet Raval, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult

SL:
Dimuth Karunaratne, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha/D Chameera, Lahiru Kumara

SL vs NZ Dream11 Prediction:

Wicket-keeper: N Dickwella and BJ Watling both are good.

Batsmen: Kane Williamson is in a sterling form and a must-pick. Ross Taylor struggled in UAE but expect him to score good at home. Angelo Mathews will be a key batsman as far as SL is concerned.

All Rounders: Dilruwan Perera will be a good pick here.

Bowlers: At home, Boult and Southee is a deadly combination, they are more than capable of running through this SL batting lineup. N Wagner is also very good pick.

Head-to-Head

Captain and VC choices: Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Jeet Rawal, T Boult, T Southee, D Karunaratne, A Mathews.

Key Players:

New Zealand:
Jeet Raval
Kane Williamson
Ross Taylor
Henry Nicholls
Tim Southee
Neil Wagner
Trent Boult

Sri Lanka:
Kusal Mendis
Dinesh Chandimal
Angelo Mathews
Niroshan Dickwella
Dilruwan Perera
Suranga Lakmal
Lahiru Kumara

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