NZ, SL launch World Cup preparations

Two-Test series is followed by seven ODIs as Sri Lanka and hosts New Zealand look ahead to next year’s global event.

Mathews will be key to Sri Lanka's chances on the tour and the World Cup [REUTERS]

Final preparations for the World Cup loom large over the upcoming Test series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, which starts at the Hagley Oval on Friday, with seven ODIs to follow the two matches in Christchurch and Wellington.

Both sides will be fine tuning their World Cup selections, with final squads needed for January 8, the day after the second Test ends, but New Zealand will also be seeking to build on their recent resurgence in the test arena.

After winning both home series last summer, beating West Indies away, then drawing with Pakistan after being hammered in the first Test in the UAE, New Zealand enter the series playing at a level that would not justify their ranking of seventh.

The team has been galavanised under the captaincy of Brendon McCullum, with the only concern in the top five the opening partnership, with Hamish Rutherford given another opportunity to prove his credentials alongside impressive rookie Tom Latham.

Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor will be expected to provide the majority of runs with the 24-year-old Williamson coming of age this year, having scored 844 test runs, including four centuries, at 60.28.

McCullum’s move back to the middle order from his role as a temporary opener will solidify an already strong tail, who are expertly guided by wicketkeeper BJ Watling.

Their new ball duo of Tim Southee and Trent Boult have also matured in the last two years, with the pair’s ability to exploit New Zealand conditions and get the ball to swing and seam.

Sri Lanka coach Marvan Atapattu is concerned with finalising his World Cup options, especially in finding an opening partner for Tillakaratne Dilshan.

“We’ll stick to our plans in finding the 15 that we want for the World Cup,” Atapattu told cricket website cricinfo.com before a warm-up match in Queenstown.

“We have passed the stage where we’ve tried everybody and we have pruned our squad down to 30.

“In the 30 we know whom we want in our 15 except for one or two places which we hope to fill during the test series.”

Source: Reuters