Conquerors of India ‘Black Caps’ return to SL

• Five-match white-ball series in Sri Lanka kicks off on Sunday

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Nine members of New Zealand’s 15-man squad for the white-ball series (T20I and ODI) were due to arrive in Sri Lanka last night to participate in five matches against Sri Lanka to be played at Dambulla and Pallekele.

The second group of players, comprising six from the New Zealand team, will arrive from India in the early hours of 6 November.

New Zealand are coming to Sri Lanka with their heads held high having conquered India in India by sweeping the three-Test series 3-0, a feat which no team in history has done. West Indies won twice in India by 3-0 margins in 1958-59 and 1983-84 but the series comprised five Tests or more.

The New Zealand players expected to arrive last night were Michael Bracewell, Josh Clarkson, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay (wk), Henry Nicholls, Tim Robinson, and Nathan Smith.

The remaining six players from the Test squad due to arrive from India tomorrow comprises interim white-ball Captain Mitchell Santner, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi, and Will Young.

New Zealand conquered India with spin and Santner was among the leading spinners who brought about their downfall with 13 wickets in the Test series at an average of 12.07. Top order batsman Will Young (244 runs, avg. 48.80), all-rounder Glenn Phillips (114 runs and 8 wickets), and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi (1 wicket from 1 Test) were the other players who played their part in New Zealand’s historic victory.

Hong Kong born Chapman played in last year’s Lanka Premier League for Dambulla Sixers, while Santner and Phillips were part of New Zealand’s Test squad that toured Sri Lanka in September and lost the two-Test series 2-0.

The New Zealand squad picked for Sri Lanka will be sans some of 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 28 November.

In their absence, New Zealand have included a number of exciting players whom they believe will represent them in the future. It includes two uncapped players in wicket-keeper/bat Mitch Hay and all-rounder Nathan Smith.

Santner, with 104 caps each in ODIs and T20Is, and Sodhi, with 117 T20Is, are the two players with over 100 white-ball appearances.

The tour of Sri Lanka is the beginning of New Zealand’s build-up towards the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February 2025, with an eye towards the 2027 ODI World Cup in Africa.

Tour Schedule

9 November – 1st T20I at Dambulla

10 November – 2nd T20I at Dambulla

13 November – 1st ODI at Dambulla

17 November – 2nd ODI at Pallekele

19 November – 3rd ODI at Pallekele 

Tickets on sale for New Zealand white-ball 

series starting today

Online ticket sales for the New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka are now open and can be purchased by visiting www.srilankacricket.lk.

In the meantime, ticket counters will be opened at Vidya Mawatha, Colombo, and the RDICS, Dambulla, from 7 November, states a Sri Lanka Cricket media release.

On T20I match days, a ticket counter will be established closer to the main gate of the RDICS.

The ticket counter at the PICS, Pallekele, will be open from 15 November, while on ODI match days, tickets will only be issued from the counter at the Abeetha Ground, Balagolla. Opening times of the counters are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for the match day counters, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ticket Prices

At Dambulla (T20I)

Stand Ticket Price (Rs.)

Level 3 – AC Box per seat (16 seats) 10,000

GrandStand Level 3 5,000

Block A 2,000

Block B 2,000

Block C Lower 2,000

Block C Upper 1,000

Block D Lower 2,000

Block D Upper 1,000

Block E Lower 2,000

Block E Upper 1,000

Block F Lower 2,000

Block F Upper 1,000

Block H Lower 2,000

Sigiriya End (Standing) 500

At Pallekele (ODIs)

Stand Ticket Price (Rs.)

GS Stand Top AC Box per seat (22 seats) 10,000

A Lower 2,000

B Lower 2,000

Grand Stand Top Level A 5,000

East Grass Embankment – (Scoreboard End) 500

West Grass Embankment 500