New Zealand/India in Sri Lanka

The NZ squads are as follows:

Test squad: Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Craig Cumming, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Daniel Flynn, Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram, Grant Elliott, Daniel Vettori (capt), Reece Young, Daryl Tuffey, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.

ODI/2020: Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jacob Oram, Neil Broom, Grant Elliott, Nathan McCullum, Gareth Hopkins (ODIs only), Ian Butler, Daniel Vettori (capt), Shane Bond, Kyle Mills, Jeetan Patel, Peter McGlashan (Twenty20s only)


There is two, 3 day warm up games. From the 7th-9th. And from the 12th-14th.

There is to be two tests matches. The first on 18th August, and the second starting on the 26th.

2x 2020's. On the 2nd and 4th of September.

A warm up OD game on the 6th.

2x ODI's. Against Sri lanka on the 8th, and against India on the 12th. It's a weird sort of tri series that's occurring, where each team plays the other once, and I guess the best two play in a 'final'.


When these squads were released a while ago (over 1 month ago?) I was surprised at Elliott's inclusion in the test squad. His technique isn't really suited to test cricket. Though I guess the flat pitches might negate that. I would have preferred to see Franklin instead.
        This could be a make or break series for McIntosh. England exposed his short ball weakness (or rather his unorthodox manner of hooking), and he needs a strong showing here on the slower pitches, and against the slightly slower bowlers to get the confidence of the public, AND the selectors.
I'm excited to see Tuffey back. I always though he was a fantastic bowler, despite the stats perhaps showing otherwise.

I thought all the talk was the return of Bond ? Does his omission tell us he's injured again?

Understandable decision NZF , who have you got at home for the summer ?

aw! no Bond in tests!!! NZL will lose 2-0.

SRL pitches have changed considerably over the years. There will be no biting sharp turn this time round. 

Originally posted by Sledger Understandable decision NZF , who have you got at home for the summer ?

As spin said, Bangladesh and Australia. We also have an away series, at home, against Pakistan, with all the gate takings here going to the Pakistan board.



     Despite my calling for O'Brien to be shot about this time last year, in the end he actually took 38 test wickets in the season (the 4th best of all seamers that season?). Martin will always take wickets. He bowls a fair bit of rubbish, but he also bowls a fair few top-shelf deliveries at that 140 kph mark that flummox the best.

Martin is a must in the kiwi Test, we need someone to entertain us with the bat mates.

I would have liked to see him and Walsh bat in tandem.

Originally posted by Sledger The NZ attack does look a bit toothless ,taking 20 wickets will be very tough.

My gut feeling says that NZ will enjoy the Galle pitch with movement.

NZ's batting is even weaker than SL. My prediction is SL to win 2/0.

Ross Taylor has to be one of the finest players around at the moment. He has scored a fine 93 in the warm up game and I believe is NZL's lead batsman at the moment ahead of Brendon McCullum.

Originally posted by MalhotraRaj84 I but I really feel SL batting is weak in Test (as of now).

What makes you think so mate? they have two players in top 10 rankings. Samaweera is in prime form. Dislhan isn't a mug either. It is better than a  lot of batting sides around I am sure.

Kiwis playing the SL Development side and playing superbly. Vettori on 96*, while key batsmen Flynn, Taylor and McCullum have made good scores. All the bowlers used also got wickets, including Tuffey who achieved 3 wickets in 10 overs which is promising. Mendis is the pick of the bowlers for the development side with 4 wickets so far, and he will be pushing for selection. He would be bitterly disappointed that he is now basically 3rd on the list of SL spinners when at one stage he was almost on par with Murali in terms of performances. But he's another good young cricketer, and a star of the future and should make his way back into the SL side sooner or later. NZ will struggle against him more so than Pakistan, that's for sure. 

Mendis can be effective against Pakistan if he can play with more consistency and stop trying to bowl too many variations. I must say that the team Warne played best against would probably be Pakistan and not England. Pakistan really struggled against Warne, and I think you can get through Paki sides with spin, and Herath did that. Mendis is a dynamic cricketer, he can improve and his goal should be becoming SLs no. 1 spinner after Murali retires next November from tests. That's a feasible goal.

Mendis is a spin bowler, but he kind of reminds me of Chris Harris with the way he bowls, and Harris was a really effective bowler for NZ (he was more of a batting all rounder though). He bowls genuine leg breaks and off breaks, as well as all the other variations.
    Salim Malik, mate that guy used to really tick me off but that 230 he got against us was a gem , I must admit. Saeed was pretty good against Warne and Ijaz wasn't too bad either. But overall Warney was all over the Pakis, however you're right - Warne is in his own league and you can't compare Mendis to him.