Sri Lanka lags behind with 4 wins to New Zealand's 8

Mahela determined to perform well

By Ranjan Anandappa

CRICKET - The Sri Lankan cricket tour of New Zealand that will get under way in a week's time, is going to be a challenging task and will be a good one to asses on the progress that the team has made during the recent past.

The team will leave for Christchurch, New Zealand on November 25, and will play in a National Bank Series which includes two Tests, in Christchurch and in Wellington, prior to five ODI's and two Twenty 20 Internationals. The team will return on January 10, 2007.

"We have made lot of progress as a team in the recent past and it will be interesting to see how we fare in another country. We have put a lot of emphasis in performing well outside Sri Lanka. I think we are going in the right direction and this could be another challenge for us, and we are looking forward to face it," said Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardena who was picked as the Best Captain of the year recently by ICC.

However, the emphasis is made more on the one-dayers than the Tests with the World Cricket Cup around the corner. The Test matches were reduced from three to two with five one-dayers and a Twenty-20 tournament.

"For me, these two Test matches are as important as the one-day games. I know that it's the World Cup that's coming, but we can't neglect the longer version of the game. If we do that, we will be sliding backwards. If Test cricket is played well, that too will be a good momentum for us to go into the one-day tournament and the World Cup".

"These days we play Test cricket in the same kind of rhythm, pattern and with the same confidence. All the guys who are in the one-day squad, are in the Test side, it will be good for them. So obviously the importance of the two Test matches will be the same."

"In the last Champions Trophy concluded recently in India we made some blunders. We realised the batsmen when they got a good start, they didn't finish it off, and we made a couple of blunders too on the field. Those are things that anyone could see. It's not a hidden thing, obviously we'll work hard and make sure not to repeat those mistakes, but nothing is guaranteed, it's up to us to play to our level best and be consistent as much as possible" added Mahela.

"Playing at home New Zealand is a very good side and it's a good challenge for us. We did play very well last time in the Tests, although we didn't play that well in the one dayers" was the Sri Lanka Captain's views. Referring to the inclusion of paceman Akalanka Ganegama and batsman Chamara Silva, Mahela said that they have been performing well with the 'A' team in India and we wanted to make sure that we take in-form players and ensure them in giving opportunities at the right time.

So the opportunity came for us to take 14-15 players on the tour and these two look really good prospects. We decided to send Malinga Bandara and Ruchira Perera on the 'A' tour to the West Indies for them to play more cricket. They will join us in New Zealand for the one day series.

We need to manage certain players differently ,so that was the thinking behind it, Chamara Silva and Akalanka may get opportunities, one never knows, and it will be a good opportunity for them to cement their places.

The Test series between the two countries began in 1982-83' and so far there have been 22 Test matches eleven each at home and away. Sri Lanka has won 4 Tests to New Zealand's 8 with 10 ending in draws. Aravinda de Silva remains the top scorer for Sri Lanka in Test (267) in Wellington in 1990/91'. In the same Test New Zealand's Martin Crowe recorded the highest individual score as he fell one run short of a triple hundred (299).

In 1986/87', Sri Lanka's opening batsman Brendon Kuruppu struck (201) on debut at the CCC grounds. Present skipper Mahela Jayawardena scored 167 in Galle in 1998 and went to make 141 in the 2004/05' series in Napier. For New Zealand, there are three more double centurions besides Martin Crowe. Present Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming scored 274 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo in 2003. Brian Young (267) in Dunedin in the 1996/97' series and Lou Vincent (224) in Wellington in 2004/05.

Sir Richard Hadlee (10 for 102) at the CCC grounds in 1983/84' and Chaminda Vaas (10 for 90) in 1994/95' at Napier have the best bowling analysis for the two countries in Tests.

The most number of wickets in the Test matches between Sri Lanka and the 'Black Caps' have been taken by Muttiah Muralitharan (53 wickets in 10 Tests) and New Zealand's Richard Hadlee who once held the world record for the highest number of Test wickets, has taken 37 wickets in just six Test matches.

Chaminda Vaas is the second highest wicket taker in the New Zealand/Sri Lanka Test series with 36 in 8 Test matches. The lowest team score in Test: New Zealand 102 at SSC in 1992/93' and for Sri Lanka 93 in Wellington 1982/83'.

Sri Lankan squad - Test:

Mahela Jayawardena (Captain), Kumar Sangakkara (Vice Captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, T. M. Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva, Prasanna Jayawardena, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Akalanka Ganegama, Muttiah Muralitharan.

One day squad:

Mahela Jayawardena (Captain), Kumar Sangakkara (Vice captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Marvan Atapattu, T. M. Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara, Ruchira Perera.

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