SL vs NZ Match Preview- 1st Test, New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2024

The New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2024 is set to entertain fans of both countries with two exciting Test matches. The SL vs NZ 1st Test starts on Wednesday, September 18 in Galle.

Tim Southee and Dhananjaya de Silva are the skippers of both sides in the series. The 2nd Test will also take place at the same venue. Below is the complete preview for SL vs NZ 1st Test 2024.

SL vs NZ 1st Test Date and Venue

The Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st Test begins on Wednesday, September 18. The venue of the match is Galle International Stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka. The match begins at 10 AM IST.

SL vs NZ Match Preview- 1st Test, New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2024

Sri Lanka

Dhananjay de Silva is the skipper of Sri Lanka in the series. Below is their full squad.

SL Squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (Captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Jeffrey Vandersay.

New Zealand

Tim Southee is the captain of New Zealand in the series. Below is their full squad.

NZ Squad: Tim Southee (Captain), Glenn Phillips, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Matt Henry, William ORourke, Ajaz Patel, Ben Sears.

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SL vs NZ Key Battles

Pathum Nissanka vs Tim Southee

Pathum Nissanka will look to give a superb start to Sri Lanka as an opener. Tim Southee needs to outplay him at the earliest.

Kane Williamson vs Lahiru Kumara

Kane Williamson is a lethal batsman for the side who can crush the opposition on his own. Lahiru Kumara will have the duty to dismiss him.

Daryl Mitchell vs Jeffrey Vandersay

Daryl Mitchell has been a marvellous performer on Asian soil and spinner Jeffrey Vandersey will aim to outplay him with his spin tactics.

SL vs NZ Key Players

SL- Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Kusam Mendis, Lahiru Kumara, and Vishwa Fernando are some key members of Sri Lanka.

NZ- Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, Tim Southee, and Mitchell Santner are key names in NZ squad.

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Weather And Pitch Report

The match takes place at Galle International Cricket Stadium. According to weather reports, there is a 24% chance of rain on Day 1. Hence, the might is likely to be affected by rain. The chance of rain rises to 71% at night.

The pitch is batting-friendly and has witnessed mammoth totals in Tests. Spinners are expected to enjoy more success than pacers.

Conclusion

The SL vs NZ 1st Test will be crucial for both sides to improve their ranks in ICC WTC points table. Sri Lanka holds the 5th rank with a win percentage of 42.85. New Zealand has the 3rd rank with a win percentage of 50.0.