NZ cricketers arrive in Sri Lanka
The first batch of the New Zealand players arriving at the Katunayake Airport (pix by T.P.G Kapila Airport Corr)The first batch of the New Zealand players arriving at the Katunayake Airport
Nine members of New Zealand’s 15-man squad for the white-ball series (T20I and ODI) arrived Sri Lanka on November 4 to participate in five matches (Two T-20s and three ODIs) and against Sri Lanka to be played at Dambulla and Pallekele.
Michael Bracewell, Josh Clarkson, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay (wicket keeper), Henry Nicholls, Tim Robinson, and Nathan Smith included for the first batch of players. The players will straight go to Dambulla and their training will commence from tomorrow.
The second group of players, comprising six from the New Zealand team scheduled to arrive today (6) from India after their successful test series. Skipper Mitchell Santner, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, and Will Young are scheduled to arrive today.
The 32-year-old Santner is the most experienced spinner of the team having represented 104 ODI’s and same number of T-20s while their top players like Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Southee, and Kane Williamson who were not considered for selection as they prioritised the upcoming three-Test series against England, starting in Christchurch on November 28.