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Hagley Park was only given approval by the Environment Court last August, after games had been allocated by World Cup organisers, and officials have been working to ensure the venue is ready for the Sri Lankan tour to test its developed facilities and match-day processes.
The venue will host the first of two tests between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, starting on 26 December, and then a one-day international between the sides on 11 January as both teams finalise their preparations ahead of the World Cup.
The will face each other again at the ground in the World Cup opener a little over a month later on 14 February.
“Bringing international cricket back to Christchurch was always a priority for NZC (New Zealand Cricket),” head of cricket Lindsay Crocker said in a statement.
“And we feel the Boxing Day test was a good way to celebrate what will be a very special landmark.”
Crocker added that two Twenty20 internationals scheduled for Sri Lanka’s tour had been exchanged for additional one-dayers because of the World Cup.
“The original agreement with Sri Lanka provided for a five-match ODI series and two T20s - but by mutual agreement, again with the (World Cup) in mind, we chose to play seven ODIs,” Crocker said.
The elongated one-day series, three 50-over matches against South Africa in October and two more against Pakistan shortly before the World Cup will also allow the country to test all seven of their venues for the global tournament.
“Three very competitive opponents, the chance to play at all our World Cup venues, and to take the team around the country – we think this offers a good lead-in to the (World Cup),” Crocker added.
Lakmal out of Test squad; Welegedara recalledESPNCricinfo: Injured fast bowler Suranga Lakmal has been left out of Sri Lanka’s Test squad to England, allowing the return of left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara Test squad; 18 months after he played his most recent Test. Nuwan Kulasekara, Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Pradeep and Dhammika Prasad, who are already in England, form the remainder of the pace battery, with Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera providing the spin options.
Among the batsmen, Dinesh Chandimal retains his place in the Test squad, while Prasanna Jayawardene returns to take the gloves. Opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne also holds on to his place, alongside Kaushal Silva, but middle-order batsman Kithuruwan Vithanage has been omitted.
Sri Lanka team management had hoped Lakmal would recover from his grade two hamstring tear in time for the Lord’s Test, but it now appears he will not be available for the first match. The bowler only began running work on Monday, but will likely be added to the squad if he regains fitness quickly enough.
The loss of Lakmal is a significant blow to Sri Lanka, who had planned for him and Eranga to lead the pace attack in the Tests. Both bowlers had showed vast signs of improvement in the four Tests they played together this year.
Welegedara, 33, had his Boxing Day Test in 2012 cut short by a hamstring tear, and had since been plagued by more injuries, which prevented him from playing more than four first-class matches in the 2014 domestic season. He took six wickets in those games. He and Kulasekara are the most experienced pacemen in the squad, with 20 Tests apiece. They are also the only bowlers to have played Tests in England.
Karunaratne and Kaushal will likely open the innings, though Lahiru Thirimanne is also in reserve for that role. Thirimanne’s recent promotion to vice-captaincy, though, means he is almost certain to be in the playing XI, likely displacing Chandimal from the middle order. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene are set to take their places at Nos. 3 and 4, with captain Angelo Mathews to follow at either No. 5 or 6.
Offspinner Perera’s impressive turns in the UAE and Bangladesh this year have been enough to safeguard his second spinner’s spot, but he is the least experienced bowler in a green Sri Lanka squad. Eight of the 15 players have never played Tests in England, including captain Mathews.
The series will be Mathews’ first Test assignment out of Asia since being given the captaincy.
Sri Lanka squad Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welegedara, Nuwan Pradeep, Dhammika Prasad |
