Kiwis face trial by spin in first Test

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 facing a quartet of Sri Lanka spinners on a biscuit-dry surface in the first Test starting on Friday. The odds appear to be stacked in Sri Lanka's favour but Stephen Fleming, New Zealand's captain, refuses to be downcast.

New Zealand have had success on Sri Lankan soil, but two of their three wins came way back in 1983-84, a time when Sri Lanka were the smiling whipping boys of international cricket. Times have changed and now Sri Lanka go into the game looking for their tenth consecutive win on home soil.

There might have been some tinkering at the top, with the appointment of a new captain and interim coach, but otherwise the team is unchanged - a strong and experienced batting line-up complemented with a full-hand of slow-bowling options that includes Muttiah Muralitharan, the world's most deadly offspinner.

The Kiwis have done their best to prepare. Renowned for their innovative approach to the game, net bowlers have flexed their elbows and thrown down Murali-like impersonations from wide of the crease. And some of the bowlers, including Daniel Vettori, who is now sporting a shaggy mohican, have found novel ways of protecting themselves against the sun by bleaching their hair. All this, coupled with two useful practice games spread over four days, leaves the squad upbeat.

But Fleming knows the magnitude of the task ahead. "This is a very tough series in challenging conditions. We are looking forward to it. Not a lot of the players have played here before and we are not used to playing attacks dominated by spin - the experienced guys must perform and the batsmen must put runs on the board."

Before long, predictably, attention had focused on Muralitharan who, playing on his club ground, is relishing the prospect of exploiting the spin-friendly conditions. "We acknowledge that he's probably the world's best strike bowler," said Fleming. "Without him Sri Lanka are not a very successful side. We can't have a generic plan - some will be positive, others defensive. A mixture of two can get us through."

The Kiwi batting, missing Nathan Astle and Chris Cairns, who is playing county cricket, will rely heavily on Fleming, Mathew Sinclair and opener Mark Richardson, who has been in rich form, scoring 106 and 93 in his two outings thus far. Vettori, who claimed 17 wickets in the series when New Zealand last toured, leads the spin bowling with Paul Wiseman, an offspinner on his second tour to Sri Lanka, as support. Darryl Tuffey, impressive in the practice matches, looks set to open the bowling with Shane Bond.

Sri Lanka's new skipper, Hashan Tillekeratne, warned his side against complacency: "They will not be as easy as many people expect. In Fleming they have one of the best captains in the game, in Vettori, one of the best spinners and, in Bond, one of the fastest and most improved bowlers. We also have some problems - the middle order has been a little brittle and the fielding needs improvement."

Sri Lanka will decide the final make-up of the eleven on the morning of the match but interim coach, Duleep Mendis, backed the inclusion of an extra spinner, which would mean just five specialist batsmen and wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana at No. 6. "Historically at P. Sara there is some movement at the start for the seamers. However, there is not a lot of grass on this surface. I think it will turn from a very early stage and we will have an additional spinner," said Mendis.

One legspinner, either Upul Chandana or the youngster Kaushal Lokuarachchi, will then partner Muralitharan and the recalled Kumar Dharmasena. Sanath Jayasuriya also provides an option with his left-arm spin. Prabath Nissanka, in the absence of the injured Dilhara Fernando, is expected to take the new ball with Chaminda Vaas, who has successfully passed a fitness test on his ankle.

New Zealand Stephen Fleming (capt), Matthew Horne, Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Robbie Hart, Ian Butler, Jacob Oram, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Paul Wiseman, Richard Jones, Shane Bond.

Sri Lanka Hashan Tillekeratne (capt), Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Michael Vandort, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Dharmasena, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Prabath Nissanka, Darshana Gamage.