Young Lions Squad Leaves On Historic Mission Pre World Cup tour of New Zealand
One of the country’s most inexperienced cricket squads left for a tour of New Zealand as the first contingent of its World Cup mission as well.
The side led by Angelo Mathews will play two tests and seven One-Day Internationals against New Zealand in a preparation for the forthcoming World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand from mid February 2015.
Sri Lanka has just one warm up two-day game before the test series commences with the Boxing Day test at Christchurch. The two sides will play their second test in Wellington from January 3-7.
More than half the squad will stay on for the World Cup and will be joined by the regular ODI players after the test series ends in the first week of January 2015.
Sri Lanka last toured New Zealand in 2006 where the two-match test series ended 1-1. The test series will be followed by the seven-match ODI series which is seen as the ideal preparation for the world cup for players to get acclimatized to the conditions in New Zealand where Sri Lanka are due to play their first round matches.
The Lankan squad is filled with young and inexperienced Test players and only two players – Kumar Sangakkara and wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardena - have played international cricket before in New Zealand.
Skipper Angelo Mathews himself on his maiden tour to the country admitted that they had a tough challenge ahead “ A maiden tour to New Zealand will always be challenging to any player and I’m looking forward to acclimatize well and lead the team to victory.”
The squad departed without batsman Lahiru Thirimanne and spinner Rangana Herath for different reasons. Thirimanne had been granted special leave following his marriage on Thursday but he is expected to join the team for the first test. Herath however is likely to miss both tests as he has not fully recvered from a groin injury he suffered whilst training.
The tour is a good opportunity for some of the younger players to put their hands up and stake their claims for places in the test side and also the forthcoming World Cup.
“We have to be mentally and physically fit for the most-important game on February 14th. We cannot risk our main players in this long tour. I’m grateful to the administrators for arranging this tour before the world cup which will help us acclimatize to the conditions. “, Sri Lanka head coach Marvan Atapattu told the media before leaving to the airport.
Sri Lanka Test squad
Angelo Mathews (Captain), Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Niroshan Dickwella, Prasanna Jayawardena, Dinesh Chandimal, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Shaminda Eranga, Suranga Lakmal, Dhammika Prasad, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep.
