1987

Saved by the detour

Rewind to...1987: It was New Zealand's second Test series in Sri Lanka. The first match was dull as ditch water. Then things hotted up

Pressure on top

Mahela Jayawardene: The experienced batsmen need to stand up and be counted if Sri Lanka are to get out of their one-day rut

Champaka Ramanayake

'SL can become hub for fast bowling'

Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Champaka Ramanayake on how his country's pace academy has helped nurture a fleet of quick bowlers

Middle order

Multi-faceted dilemmas

All-time New Zealand XI: The middle order is where the real competition is at, with 10 men fighting for the spots

The one that got away

Mahes Goonatilleke was perhaps Sri Lanka's best keeper, but five Tests was all he played. By Jamie Alter.

The Sangakkara edge

Sri Lanka's captain has begun to infuse his side with his own brand of competitiveness, and the results seem to already be starting to show. By Jamie Alter

Openers

Opening the debate

All-time New Zealand XI: The toughie, the perfectionist, the artist, and the honest triers. Which two openers are your picks?

England have a long way to go

The Tony Greig Show: England's Ashes triumph, Australia's growing worries, and New Zealand's unimpressive performance in Sri Lanka

Samaraweera sizzles in his second innings

Numbers Game: Since his return to the team, the Sri Lankan batsman has added a new dimension to his game

Dan Solo

New Zealand's second-highest Test wicket-taker, Daniel Vettori, has just gone past 300, and it's been a hard, lonely furrow he's had to plough. By Jamie Alter

Time to set the record straight

Mahela Jayawardene: The last time New Zealand visited Sri Lanka, both Tests were drawn. This is an opportunity to learn from that experience and put things right

An interview with Paul Farbrace

'Simple is repeatable, repeatable is successful'

The chance to become Kent's head coach was too much of a temptation to resist, Paul Farbrace, the Sri Lankan assistant coach, tells Sa'adi Thawfeeq