New Zealand announces Sri Lanka Test venues

New Zealand will play the first Test of the postponed series against Sri Lanka at Napier after the revised schedule was released today. Martin Snedden, the New Zealand Cricket chief executive, said a number of venues were considered, including the Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln University, but they settled on the Basin Reserve at Wellington for the second Test.

"We chose the two venues that we believe will offer the best Test cricket conditions at this time of year," Snedden said. "The Bert Sutcliffe Oval was in real contention but would have required ICC Test cricket certification and we didn't have sufficient time to work though this process."

The series, delayed when the Sri Lanka squad returned home after the Boxing Day tsunami, will begin deep into New Zealand's autumn, but the home side will be well prepared after a three-Test series against Australia in March. The first Test starts on April 4 and the second on April 11.

Tour schedule
March 26 Sri Lanka arrive
March 28-30 First-class warm-up match, TBA
April 4-8 1st Test, Napier
April 11-15 2nd Test, Wellington