NZ vs SL: New Zealand Announce Squad For Sri Lanka Test Series

New Zealand will take on Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series, beginning on March 9 in Christchurch. It is their last series in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, and selectors didn’t want to tinker with their winning combination as they retained the same 13-member squad. The Black Caps registered a thrilling victory in the second Test to level the series at 1-1.

The Kiwis pulled off an incredible one-run win in Wellington and became the fourth team to win the Test match after being asked to follow on. Uncapped seamer Jacob Duffy, leg spinner Ish Sodhi, and Kyle Jamieson weren’t included in the squad. The tall fast bowler Jamieson, who played his last international cricket match in June 2022, will undergo surgery for an injury.

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Opener Devon Conway is nursing a groin strain, and paceman Matt Henry has a tight back, but both are expected to be fit enough to be available for the upcoming clash. The selectors did not include Trent Bout, who opted out of his central contract to focus on franchise cricket.

Kane Williamson will be their best player in the batting line-up, supported by Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, and Will Young. Michael Bracewell will continue to be the lone spinner, and Tom Blundell will keep the wickets. Captain Tim Southee will lead the pacers along with Neil Wagner, Matt Henry, Blair Tickner, and Scott Kuggeleijn.

New Zealand, the champions of the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) in 2021, are out of contention for the final berth, while Sri Lanka needed to win the two matches to keep their hopes alive. The Sri Lankan cricket team would qualify for the final match if they whitewash New Zealand and India to sweep the ongoing four-Test series against Australia.

New Zealand Test Squad

Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson, Will Young

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