Black Caps hope history repeats
Even as a daunting test series looms on emerald green swards tailormade for the hosts, you get the impression Sri Lanka’s cricketers feel a sense of calm when they farewell the chaos of home.
Captain Dinesh Chandimal, coach Chandika Hathurusingha and their 17-man squad touched down in Auckland on Wednesday, then headed for Napier where their solitary three-day tour match starts tomorrow.
A fine weekend is forecast in Napier for their McLean Park shakedown against a fresh-faced New Zealand XI; a stark contrast to the dark clouds looming over headquarters in Colombo.
A heavy 3-0 test series defeat to England at home saw the entire selection panel jettisoned, while manager Charith Senanayake resigned after the first test when he learned through the media he wouldn’t be required for the New Zealand tour.
Allrounder Angelo Matthews, who led the side in its 2-0 series defeat in New Zealand in December 2015, was sacked from the ODI captaincy, then made pointed gestures at coach Hathurusinga while batting during the England tests.
Former international Dilhara Lokuhetigge last month joined bowling coach Nuwan Zoysa and Sri Lankan great Sanath Jayasuriya among those charged for breaches of cricket’s anticorruption code.
On the field, Sri Lanka are preparing for life without spin whiz Rangana Herath who retired during the England series, while another spinner Akila Dananjaya is absent as he undergoes tests on his bowling action which was reported.
Promising seamer Lahiru Kumara is here, at least, after he was expelled from the squad before the England series for breaking a curfew.
Such is the backdrop to being Who truly believes they can predict what will happen in the final two days of a capricious test cricket series between New Zealand and Pakistan?
Smart money says Pakistan will triumph holding the stronger position after three days.
Yet all we can do is to contemplate the Black Caps trailing by 48 runs with eight second-innings wickets in hand, and refer to recent history as a potential guide and wait for this three-test contest to play out in Abu Dhabi.
At stumps on day three of the third test, New Zealand were 26-2 in their second innings after Pakistan were dismissed for 348
a Sri Lankan cricketer. To be fair, Sri Lanka have travelled well in the past year or so, as they rebuild and try to fill the chasm left by batting giants Kumar in their first innings.
When Pakistan’s Azhar Ali (134) and Asad Shafiq (104) combined to put on 201 for the fourth wicket, New Zealand’s hopes of a series win looked forlorn.
Realistically, the Black Caps are still up against it, as legspinner Yasir Shah seeks to become the quickest bowler to take 200 test wickets with one more scalp.
But some irresponsible batting by the Pakistan lower order only left them with a lead of 74 on the first innings – the same margin Pakistan had in the first test at the same venue.
In that match, Pakistan were set the seemingly simple task of Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
As New Zealand scrap through a tough decider against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka boast a 2-0 test series win there in October last year. They went on to win 1-0 in Bangladesh and draw 1-1 in the Caribbean, before a 2-0 whitewash of South Africa at home in July. They arrive with a record of two wins from 17 tests in New Zealand, ahead of next Saturday’s first test at Wellington’s Basin Reserve.
That was the scene of their most recent win, in December 2006, when Sangakkara’s 156 not out and Muttiah Muralitharan’s 10-wicket bag got them home. Since that victory they’ve suffered four successive defeats in New Zealand.
Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera was a shining light of that last series three years ago when he had the Black Caps batsmen jumping at a bouncy Seddon Park before Kane Williamson guided the hosts home by five wickets.
Chameera is back, along with senior seamer Nuwan Pradeep, returning from injury having not played a test this year.
As cricket makes a welcome appearance at McLean Park, Sri Lanka will get their eye in against a young side without Plunket Shield players, led by Wellington allrounder Peter Younghusband. Other familiar names are Michael Snedden, the son of Martin who made his Auckland debut last month, and Dale Phillips, younger brother of Glenn. scoring 176 for victory in their second innings, only to be stunningly dismissed for 171.
After working their way into a dominant position midway through the test, Pakistan lost 7-62 to give the Black Caps a sniff.
New Zealand off-spinner Will Somerville ended his first test innings with the ball with figures of 4-75 off 36 overs, bowling well to the tail.
Eighteen-year-old debutant Shaheen Shah Afridi removed opener Jeet Raval for a duck early in NZ’s second innings and fellow opener Tom Latham perished to an ill-judged sweep just before stumps.
For the latest on the third test go to stuff.co.nz