New Zealand vs Sri Lanka ODIs: Fresh Faces, Spin-Friendly Pitches, and Champions Trophy Preparations

The upcoming ODI series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka has different meanings for both teams. While New Zealand is preparing for the Champions Trophy in 2025, Sri Lanka is aiming to maintain their recent momentum in ODIs after missing out on the big tournament.

Recent ODI Form of Both Teams

New Zealand hasn’t played an ODI since December 2023—a long gap for a team preparing for an ICC event. With T20 cricket dominating the calendar and Tests maintaining their classic appeal, ODIs often take a backseat. But 11 months without an ODI means New Zealand will need a bit of a refresh as they step onto the field.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has been more active in ODIs. They’ve won 10 out of their 15 ODIs in 2024, showing good form, especially in home series. They’ve only lost one series this year, and that was against Bangladesh on away soil.

Different Goals for Each Team

Normally, both teams would be building up to the same tournament, but this time their aims differ. New Zealand is focused on testing new players for the Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to be held in Pakistan (though political issues might change this).

Sri Lanka’s goal is to continue their recent ODI progress. After finishing ninth in the last World Cup, they missed out on qualifying for the Champions Trophy. However, they’ve started to regain their footing, with recent series wins against India and the West Indies on spin-friendly pitches.

Spin-Friendly Conditions and Team Strategy

With Sri Lanka’s pitches expected to assist spinners, New Zealand has chosen a squad rich in spin-bowling allrounders. Captain Mitchell Santner, along with Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips, will likely bowl a significant number of overs in each match.

Sri Lanka has also stacked their team with spinners, although they lost Wanindu Hasaranga to a hamstring injury. They still have strong spin options, including Dunith Wellalage, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, and Hasaranga’s replacement, Dushan Hemantha. Expect spin to dominate this series, with around 30 overs of spin bowling likely per match.

Possible Weather Challenges

The Northeast Monsoon is active, which could affect the games, particularly in Pallekele where the second and third ODIs are scheduled. Dambulla, the venue for the first ODI, could also see interruptions despite its generally dry climate. Teams might prefer to chase given the likelihood of rain and the potential for DLS (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern) calculations to impact the games.

Captains’ Comments

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka spoke about dealing with the absence of key players: “Losing Wanindu is a big setback, but we have Jeffrey Vandersay, who has proven himself against India and West Indies. We’re confident in our bench strength.”

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner is optimistic about the series despite the long gap since their last ODI: “It’s a bit challenging to start again, but our players are experienced in one-day cricket. Sri Lanka is strong at home, but we’re ready for the challenge. We’ll take lessons from the T20Is, especially since the first ODI is on the same ground.”

Stay tuned as New Zealand and Sri Lanka face off in what promises to be an exciting ODI series with unique goals, spin-friendly pitches, and a possible rain factor. Both teams will be aiming to make the most of this contest, each with their own ambitions for the future.