New Zealand vs Sri Lanka ODI series preview

The Kiwis won their Test series against Sri Lanka 2-0, playing out a thrilling first test which all came down to the last day, with New Zealand winning by two wickets and they won the second Test by by an innings and 58 runs.

 

The Black Caps have been involved in some thrilling cricket recently as they come off the back of their test series against England. Their one-day international team will follow the tests with three ODI games against Sri Lanka and then a T20i series, too. They’re one of the less predictable teams out there, so those looking to bet on cricket might find some odds that seem to have value, depending on how you think the matches are going to shake out.

The series starts at Eden Park before moving to the Hagley Oval and finally on March 31^st the teams face off at Seddon Park. With a World Cup coming up, this is a valuable chance for both teams to see what they are facing and to sharpen their team before they play. However, with the IPL going on at the same time, the teams have an interesting look to them.

 

A much-changed New Zealand

 

The New Zealand side playing in the tests will look totally different to that taking on the ODI series. Batsman Chad Bowes and left-arm quick Ben Lister could both make their debuts for the Black Caps as they were named to the squad for the first time.

Kane Williamson, who has played so well in that test series, will be playing in the IPL. He will be joined on the sidelines by Tim Southee, Devon Conway and Mitchell Santner, who will all be in India at the time. The squad will also lose more of its players who are preparing for their IPL commitments, with Finn Allen, Glenn Phillips and Lockie Ferguson all having to jet off to their IPL franchises after the first game.

In the absence of a lot of these players, Tom Latham will captain the New Zealand team. The new boys Lister and Bowes have certainly earned their chance.

Lister has played in a T20 game, and the impressive Bowes is Canterbury’s leading white-ball run scorer this season, making 373 runs at an average of 46.63 and perhaps more impressively making 359 T20 runs at 39.89. He’ll be hoping to be involved in the T20 matches too.

Coach Gary Stead spoke about the series and the chance for new players to impress. “We are set to play 16 white ball matches between now and the start of May so there will be a number of chances for players to test themselves in familiar and unfamiliar conditions. Tom Blundell, in particular, is someone who we’ve been hugely impressed by in international cricket over the past 18 months as a leader in the test team and then domestically with the Wellington Firebirds.”

Mykhel.com shows us that over the history of the fixture, New Zealand have certainly had the better of things. They have won 49 times when these teams have taken each other on competitively as opposed to 41 wins for Sri Lanka. The home team has also usually dominated.

Sri Lanka’s probable squad for the upcoming matches is expected to include: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Angelo Mathews, Sahan Arachchige, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrema, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kusal Janith, Lasith Croospulle and Matheesha Pathirana.

New Zealand has confirmed their squad will include: Tom Latham as captain, Finn Allen, Tom Blundell, Chad Bowes, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner and Will Young.

 

How will the ODI series shake out?

 

While New Zealand is not in a position to lose the test series, Sri Lanka will be out for revenge when they play in the shorter format of the game. The New Zealand team is undeniably going to be decimated by the loss of their captain as well as many senior players to the IPL. Sri Lanka is losing players too, but we don’t expect them to be as heavily impacted. Their squad to take on the Kiwis is yet to be announced but we have predicted the members above.

New Zealand should have enough to take the win, especially if the debutants can stand up and be counted. In recent years, they’ve had the better of ODIs between the teams and we expect this to continue, though Sri Lanka certainly stands a chance if they can perform to their highest standard.

©Cricket World 2023