Sri Lankan Tests to be played in April

The Sri Lankan Cricket team is to return to New Zealand to play its cancelled National Bank Test match series against the BLACKCAPS in early April this year.

New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Martin Snedden said he was pleased the Sri Lankan Cricket Board had agreed that the Sri Lankan team would return to play the two cancelled Test matches this season.

"The climatic conditions in early April are normally similar to those in March and we are confident that Test cricket can be played at this time of year," he said.

"A decision about the venues for the re-scheduled Tests should be made within the next two weeks.

"We are also working with the Sri Lankan Cricket Board to reschedule the un-played ODI matches and hope to play a four match ODI series during next season's Christmas/New Year period," he said.

The schedule for The National Bank Test series is:

Saturday March 26 Sri Lankan team arrives
March 28 - 30 (First Class) warm-up match Venue TBA
April 4- 8 1st Test Venue TBA
April 11 - 15 2nd Test Venue TBA