Pressure's weight a challenge for Styris in Sri Lanka

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.

It is the weight of responsibility, something that has occurred as a result of the absence of Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan and Chris Cairns from the New Zealand middle-order for the Test series in Sri Lanka.

Styris has played only three Tests, the first of which resulted in a Test century and half century on debut, and the second two on the wet and seaming wickets of the home series against India.

Styris, who had a significant taste of international one-day cricket before making his Test debut in the West Indies midway through last year, said this tour to Sri Lanka was always going to be a challenge. The absence of key players, along with playing in Sri Lankan conditions made it doubly so.

For Styris however, the performance at Bloemfontein during the World Cup where he scored 141, had given him encouragement going into the tour.

"If it had been scored on a hard, fast track it wouldn't have meant anything, but because it was a lower and slower track similar to what we might find in Sri Lanka, it has given me a boost," he said.

The reason behind Styris' performance level lifting in recent summers has been the fact that he is trying to make less mistakes in his batting.

"I've been pulling everything in a little so I can kick on a little longer," he said.

It wasn't something that came easily but the greater reward made it worthwhile.

"It is a matter of getting myself to take better options. You need the focus. Mine is to work more on looking for singles and not worry about the fours," he said.

That policy, with experience, meant the opportunity to hit fours were all the more obvious when they did come.

However, Styris isn't going to dwell on the performance in the West Indies. He would always have fond memories of the achievement which occurred on a reasonable batting wicket and in a situation where he didn't have to think too much about what he was doing. He was just enjoying it.

Having had four years of experience in One-Day Internationals had prepared him for the task of Test match play. He had faced most of the bowlers in one-day play so he knew what to expect.

"The mystery wasn't there and it was almost like another game," he said.

That is the scenario in which he heads to Sri Lanka as well. Having faced the bowlers in the World Cup there is an appreciation of their obvious class.

The New Zealanders make it a policy of talking about how they will handle the bowlers they face in any series and the same would apply to the Sri Lankans.

"We have a rough idea of how we would like to play them," he said.

Styris isn't sure where he will fit in the batting order should he make the Test XI. He played at No 6 in his three earlier Tests but with McMillan and Astle not there, a boost in the order is likely.

"I'm yet to know the role I will play but I like to think if I have to bat higher I could handle it," he said.

Styris is motivated about concentrating on his own performance and not worrying about external things.

"It is about believing you can perform and if you believe in this you will feel all right."

The chance is also there for Styris to go a long way towards nailing down a permanent place in the Test side, at just the time it is becoming more competitive.

With a heavier programme starting later in the year with a tour to India, followed by home series against Pakistan and South Africa and then a tour to England, there is plenty of incentive to play well. With Astle and McMillan likely to be back in consideration, and the prospect of Mathew Sinclair, Matt Horne, Lou Vincent and Chris Cairns all looking for places in the line-up, the pressure would be on.

"We have some pretty solid cricket after the break at the end of this tour. There are fantastic tours coming up, to India and England, they are two of the best tours. You always dream as a young player of playing at Lord's or Eden Gardens and I haven't done that yet," he said.

Styris also hasn't forgotten about working on his bowling either. Like most batsmen who like to bowl a little, he feels it keeps him in the game and while he doesn't see himself as a front-line bowler he is expecting that the slower paced pitches of Sri Lanka might suit him.

While possible selection for the tour of India would make it harder for him to play club cricket in Sydney this year, it is something he would endorse for other players.

"It was definitely good and I think ND [his provincial side Northern Districts] intend to build on that," he said.

The clubs in Australia had not had a problem with the New Zealanders being involved for the first six or seven weeks of the season.

"Actually a few of the clubs were upset at being left out and were asking Steve Rixon why they hadn't been included.

"It does have an effect though because each club is only allowed three professionals in a season and if we are only there for six or seven weeks it does get difficult.

"But I really enjoyed the experience and training with the New South Wales players like Steve Waugh and Brett Lee was great while the practice wickets were as good as those we play first-class cricket on here," he said.

The Sri Lankan tour does offer Styris the perfect chance to build on his earlier Test performances and with his exposure to the bowling during the World Cup there has to be every hope that he can play a significant role in an emerging New Zealand middle-order.