New Zealand v Sri Lanka 1st Test Prediction & Betting Tips

The Lankan Lions have landed in New Zealand and have already played a tour match vs. New Zealand Chairman’s XI that ended as a draw. The tourists will start their tour with two Test series followed by seven One Day Internationals prior to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Two teams played the first Test in 1982-83 and have faced each other 28 times, the Black Caps have won 10, lost 8 and 10 of them were recorded as drawn. The Islanders last visited New Zealand in 2006-07, played two Tests and both sides grabbed one of them. The Kiwis played three Test series against Pakistan that was held in United Arab Emirates in November – December, 2014 which they drew at 1-1. Sri Lanka humiliated Pakistan in the two Test series at 2-0 at their home grounds so both teams are in good nick.

Players to watch

Brendon McCullum led his troops from the front vs. Pakistan, was the highest run getter for New Zealand with 347 runs at an awesome average of 69.40. Tom Latham, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor scored quite a few runs whereas Dean Brownlie and Hamish Rutherford will add miseries for the visitors. Mark Craig and Ish Sodhi emerged as supreme all-rounders while Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner are in great form.

Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Upul Tharanga and Kaushal Silva were the main scorers for Sri Lanka in the home series against Pakistan while Dinesh Chandimal is a fine middle order batsman. Rangana Herath was their outstanding and unplayable bowler with 23 wickets, Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne and Dhammika Prasad are their match winning bowlers.

Time & Venue

Friday, December 26 – Tuesday December 30, 2014 @ 22:00 GMT, 11:00 local at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. The venue with a seating capacity of 20,000 was established in 1886 but did not host any Test and the coming one will be the first one ever hosted there.

Weather

A clear weather is expected throughout five days with the temperatures around 13-25ᵒC.

Toss

The winner will most probably decide to bat first on this wicket.

The Pitch

The wicket proved to be a happy hunting ground for the batsmen in the last ODI played between Kenya and Scotland where the first set a target of 260 which was attained by the latter while blasting 261.

Teams

New Zealand – Brendon McCullum (C), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Hamish Rutherford, Ross Taylor, Mark Craig, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling.

Sri Lanka – Angelo Mathews (C), Dinesh Chandimal, Kumar Sangakkara, Dushmantha Chameera, Niroshan Dickwella, Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Pradeep, Rangana Herath, Prasanna Jayawardene, Dimuth Karunaratne, Tharindu Kaushal, Suranga Lakmal, Dilruwan Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Kaushal Silva, Lahiru Thirimanne.

Prediction

Team New Zealand will enter the match as a favourite winner.