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(c)Cricinfo en-gb New Zealand's build up for the test series starting on Friday continues to go well with the bowlers... https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/124185.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/124185.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124185 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT New Zealand's opening two-day practice match against a Sri Lanka Board President's XI petered out into a predictable draw as the visitors batted throughout the second day. throughout the second day https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/124174.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/124174.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124174 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Mahela Jayawardene sprang back into form with a brilliant hundred in a two-day warm-up match against New Zealand on Saturday, guaranteeing himself selection for the first test starting on April 25 https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/124157.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/124157.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124157 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT New Zealand flew out for Sri Lanka today having received a reminder from the monthly player rankings lists of the job they have ahead of them https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/124063.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/124063.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124063 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Chris Cairns will not bowl during the forthcoming triangular one-day series involving New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan after aggravating an old side injury https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/131216.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/131216.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131216 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Marvan Atapattu's leadership skills will be under the microscope as Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan start a triangular series at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Saturday https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/131214.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/131214.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131214 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT As long as Test series' of two matches only remain the norm there will be grounds for dissatisfaction with inconclusive results like those in the just-completed New Zealand-Sri Lanka series https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/131179.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/131179.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131179 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Stephen Fleming claimed to be surprised by Sri Lanka's negative approach during the final Test in Kandy, believing that they did "not want to win." Sri Lanka were set a stiff 191 target in 38 overs after bowling out New Zealand for 183, but https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/131165.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/131165.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131165 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT The second Test ended in a tame draw after crackling briefly back into life on the final day when New Zealand were bowled out for 183 https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131161.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131161.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131161 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Although you would never have guessed it from their lack of ambition on the fourth day, both Sri Lanka and New Zealand claim to be hopeful of clinching the series on the final day of this Kandy Test match https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131147.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131147.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131147 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT The second Test drifted towards stalemate on the fourth day after another gritty marathon from Hashan Tillakaratne https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131145.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131145.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131145 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT TelstraClear Black Cap Daniel Vettori injured his left ankle whilst batting in the first innings of the second Test being played against Sri Lanka at Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy, yesterday (Monday, May 5) https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131118.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131118.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131118 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Jacob Oram was delighted with his first major contribution with the bat in Test cricket on the third day of the second Test in Kandy https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/131117.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/131117.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131117 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Daniel Vettori and Marvan Atapattu have escaped serious injury after a gruesome fielding collision on the third afternoon of the second Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at Kandy https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/131116.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/131116.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131116 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Stephen Fleming remained upbeat about his side's chances despite New Zealand slipping to 75 for 4 on a truncated second day in this second Test https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131106.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131106.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131106 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT For five sessions they lazed in their hotel, looking forward to the chance to win their first series in Sri Lanka for two decades, as an army of groundstaff mopped up a waterlogged outfield with hand sponges and scraped away the mud with cardboard https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131102.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131102.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131102 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Despite the arrival of emergency tarpaulins, which covered 90% of the ground, the around-the-clock mopping up operations of an army of groundstaff and, ironically, bright blue skies and blazing sunshine, no play was possible before lunch on the https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131098.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131098.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131098 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT The opening day's play of the second match of the two-Test series at Kandy was abandoned without a ball being bowled after heavy overnight rain left large areas of the outfield saturated https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131080.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131080.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131080 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT After an attritional drawn opening Test in Colombo, a dreary contest on a lifeless pitch, more frustration is in store for the second Test at Kandy https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131066.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/131066.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-131066 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who toiled long and hard in the heat and humidity of Colombo, to score a total of 343 unbeaten runs against Sri Lanka, should take a good rest before he studies the statistical profile of his feats https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124388.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124388.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124388 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond has the chance to smash a national record by becoming the bowler to assemble the fastest 50 Test wickets https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/124381.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/124381.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124381 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Stephen Fleming believes New Zealand are now better-placed to win the second Test at Kandy after having shown that they can survive against Sri Lanka's leading spinner Muttiah Muralitharan https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124379.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124379.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124379 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Sri Lanka's captain Hashan Tillakaratne and coach Duleep Mendis lamented their side's poor fielding in the opening Test but praised the efforts of the bowlers and batsmen https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124377.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124377.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124377 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT The inmates of the nearby Welikada Prison, given day release during the Test match to man the pitch covers, may have sung and danced their way through their last afternoon of freedom, but for the others present at the P Saravanamuttu Oval there was https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124376.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124376.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124376 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT The Selection Committee, at a meeting held on 28th April 2003 has decided to select a squad of 15 players from which the Team will be selected for the above test match at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124373.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124373.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124373 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Hashan Tillakaratne, who celebrated the first match of his captaincy tenure with his eleventh Test century, believes Sri Lanka still have work to do on the final day despite his side's strong reply to New Zealand's 515 for 7 and a fourth day wash-out https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124353.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124353.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124353 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT A thunderstorm brought relief on the fourth afternoon of the opening Test: relief from the sweltering heat and also from the dreary cricket, which had reached a stalemate after a dour, unbeaten 11th Test century from Hashan Tillakaratne https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124352.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124352.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124352 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Denis Aberhart, New Zealand's coach, believes his bowlers still have enough time to force a win despite a fightback by Sri Lanka's batsmen on day three of this opening Test https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124325.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124325.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124325 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Sri Lanka's batsmen, faced with New Zealand's daunting 515 for 7, sparkled in the morning, wobbled in the afternoon and consolidated in the evening https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124323.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124323.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124323 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Hashan Tillakaratne, Sri Lanka's new Test captain, paid tribute to his counterpart, Stephen Fleming, who scored an unbeaten 274 out of New Zealand's massive 515 for seven declared on day two of this Colombo Test https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124302.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124302.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124302 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Stephen Fleming battled through searing heat and sapping humidity to score 274 not out, the second-highest score by a New Zealander in Test cricket https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124300.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124300.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124300 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Stephen Fleming has always had an appetite for runs but too often he tended towards the medium-rare in his taste https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124296.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124296.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124296 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Stephen Fleming, New Zealand's captain and unbeaten centurion, promised a more positive approach on day two after the visitors crawled towards a position of strength on the opening day of this two test series https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124292.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124292.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124292 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Stephen Fleming hits out on his way to an unbeaten 112 ©AFP Local predictions that New Zealand might wilt in harsh Sri Lankan conditions proved overly optimistic on an attritional opening day of this two-Test series at the P Saravanamuttu Oval https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124283.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124283.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124283 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT TelstraClear Black Caps coach Denis Aberhart today named the team to play Sri Lanka in the first Test at P Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo tomorrow (Friday, April 25) https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124267.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124267.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124267 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Were the unusual heat and humidity in Colombo not enough - even under the shade of the tin-roofed Sathi Coomaraswamy stand it was sweltering on Thursday - New Zealand, missing key batsmen in the middle order, are faced with the daunting prospect of https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124265.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124265.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124265 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Perhaps the biggest surprise of recent weeks - a period packed with resignations, sackings and appointments - was the appointment of Aravinda de Silva as a selector https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124255.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124255.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124255 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Adaptability has become a byword for New Zealand teams over the last 10 years, and it will be required again of the side captain Stephen Fleming leads into the first Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/124254.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/124254.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124254 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT The Selection Committee, at a meeting held on 22nd April 2003 has decided to select a squad of 15 players from which the Team will be selected for the above test match at the P https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124237.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124237.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124237 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Hashan Tillakaratne, Sri Lanka's recently appointed test captain, has announced his retirement from One-Day International cricket https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/124234.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/124234.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124234 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT New Zealand might have failed to make the most of their batting opportunities in their second two-day match against Sri Lanka A yesterday, but captain Stephen Fleming was still confident his side could do well in the two-Test series https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/124228.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/124228.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124228 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Sri Lanka's selectors have picked a 15-man squad for the opening Test against New Zealand, including the previously out-of-favour wicket-keeper, Romesh Kaluwitharana, and four specialist slow bowlers https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/124211.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/124211.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124211 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Opener Mark Richardson scored 93 as New Zealand batted throughout the final day of their drawn practice match against Sri Lanka A at Nondescripts Cricket Grounds on Tuesday https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/124210.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/124210.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124210 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT The BCCSL President's XI to play against the visiting New Zealand Team on 19th & 20th April 03 at the NCC Grounds https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124143.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124143.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124143 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT TelstraClear Black Caps coach Denis Aberhart today named the team to play the Sri Lankan Academy XI tomorrow (Saturday, April 19) in a two-day match at Nondescripts Cricket Club in Colombo https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124142.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/124142.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124142 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT It won't be obvious enough to be detected by airline officials as excess baggage, but Scott Styris will be carrying some extra weight on his shoulders when he flies out on New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/124044.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/124044.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-124044 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Overcoming the disappointment of their early exit from the World Cup and switching back into Test mode will be the key to New Zealand's hopes of holding their Test ranking of No 3 in the world in their forthcoming Test series with Sri Lanka https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/123959.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/123959.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-123959 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT New Zealand Cricket's decision to send young spin bowlers Bruce Martin and Jeetan Patel to Sri Lanka with the New Zealand side is part of an on-going initiative to boost the performance and stocks of spin bowlers in the country https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/123937.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/123937.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-123937 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT New Zealand Cricket has taken expert advice on precautions for the New Zealand cricket team to avoid the threat of SARS while travelling to Sri Lanka https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/123935.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/123935.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-123935 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka is all go at this stage and it appears it would take a severe downturn in the SARS situation to stop it https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/123933.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/123933.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-123933 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT The outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Asia has put question marks over New Zealand's forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/123921.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/123921.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-123921 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT New Zealand Cricket selection chairman Sir Richard Hadlee said the five-hour meeting to choose the Test and one-day teams for the tour of Sri Lanka later this month was the longest of his time on the selection panel https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/123802.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/123802.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-123802 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT New Zealand Cricket chairman of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee today named the TelstraClear Black Caps Test and one-day squads for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/123800.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com//content/story/123800.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-123800 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT Any New Zealand team selection for tours of Asia highlights the greatest vacuum in cricket in this country - the vast hole which signifies the lack of successful spin bowling options https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/123786.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/123786.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-123786 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT New Zealand cricket fans could struggle for live television coverage of the TelstraClear Black Caps' forthcoming tour to Sri Lanka https://p.imgci.com https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/130650.html?ex_cid=OTC-RSS https://www.cricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/130650.html https://www.cricinfo.com/story/-130650 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:53:33 GMT