Watling backs Black Caps ambush attack

HAVING seen a refreshed and fired-up Tim Southee and Trent Boult destroy Wellington, BJ Watling hinted at an ambush for the Sri Lankans in the Boxing Day test.

With a knowing gleam in his eye, the New Zealand wicket keeper talked about the expected pace, bounce and carry at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.

Southee and Boult were sent back from the Black Caps’ United Arab Emirates tour early to prepare for the two tests against Sri Lanka and both are in top form.

They each took seven wickets against Wellington in Northern Districts’ 395 run win last week in Hamilton.

‘‘Hopefully, it’s swinging around as well,’’ Watling said, before adding how well his ND teammates were bowling.

‘‘I just watched them demolish Wellington last week and that was good fun so hopefully the conditions are similar.

‘‘Hopefully it’s got a bit more bounce and carry and that can really test the Sri Lankan team.’’

Watling put the form of Boult and Southee, ranked Nos 9 and 10 in the world, down to fitness, hard work and experience.

‘‘I think confidence comes into it too. They’ve obviously bowled well for a while now and they’re learning their way in test cricket. They’re learning when it’s best to be patient and when to be aggressive.’’

The ND duo aren’t the only confident players, Watling said. The entire squad was on a high.

‘‘I guess that comes with winning games and winning series.

‘‘The one-day boys had a great series win and to draw the test series and coming away with a test win, the boys are pretty confident.’’

That confidence, he said, came from winning games and series.

The test side hasn’t lost any of its last five series, beating the West Indies home and away, beating India at home last summer while picking up away draws against Bangladesh and Pakistan.

‘‘Everyone knows their roles now too,’’ Watling said.

‘‘Even the likes of guys like Mark Craig who’s only played six games, but he knows what’s expected of him.’’

The home side weren’t expecting a young Sri Lankan side to be pushovers, though.

They’re well aware Sri Lanka beat England in August in conditions not dissimilar to that in New Zealand.

‘‘I watched that win in England and they played some very good cricket. It’s always going to be a challenge for us; they’re a strong team, but hopefully in our conditions we can put them under a lot of pressure and do the things we do, well.

‘‘It’s obviously a bit of a younger team in terms of batting without [retired Mahela Jayawardene] there. They’ve got some young guys and it’s probably their time to step up now.

‘‘And for us, it’s different conditions [from the UAE] and we need to play a slightly different brand of cricket, but the boys are confident going into the game.’’

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have officially ruled out Rangana Herath from the first test. The spinner injured his groin in the recent ODI series against England.

The side remains hopeful the No 2 ranked test bowler will join them for the second test, starting in Wellington on January 3.