Runners-up four years ago, New Zealand start their World Cup 2019 campaign against Sri Lanka at Cardiff. The venue, like all tracks in England, is a beautiful batting deck, however, the early start indicates that seamers could get some help initially. With New Zealand having bowlers like Trent Boult and Tim Southee, the former wreaked havoc against India in the warm-ups, might look to bowl first if they win the toss.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are in a dismal run in ODIs, and are ranked ninth in the world at the moment, with only Afghanistan ranked lower than them in this World Cup. They have a new leader, and how he manages his troops will go a long way in determining the team's progress. They, though, will have a tough game against New Zealand, who won all three games they played against the Lankans in their ODI series in January - bowling the visitors out in all three ODIs.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Tom Latham (8.5 credits)
Latham has a sharp footwork and thrives on slow pitches, as against players like Guptill, Williamson or Taylor, who struggle when the pitch is not a good batting deck. He has a good defense game against the quicks as well, and with a batting average of around 34 - more than the other Sri Lankans in fray - he is a good pick at 8.5 credits.
Batsman: Ross Taylor (10 credits)
The player is in supreme form in ODI cricket.
Runners-up four years ago, New Zealand start their World Cup 2019 campaign against Sri Lanka at Cardiff. The venue, like all tracks in England, is a beautiful batting deck, however, the early start indicates that seamers could get some help initially. With New Zealand having bowlers like Trent Boult and Tim Southee, the former wreaked havoc against India in the warm-ups, might look to bowl first if they win the toss.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are in a dismal run in ODIs, and are ranked ninth in the world at the moment, with only Afghanistan ranked lower than them in this World Cup. They have a new leader, and how he manages his troops will go a long way in determining the team's progress. They, though, will have a tough game against New Zealand, who won all three games they played against the Lankans in their ODI series in January - bowling the visitors out in all three ODIs.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Tom Latham (8.5 credits)
Latham has a sharp footwork and thrives on slow pitches, as against players like Guptill, Williamson or Taylor, who struggle when the pitch is not a good batting deck. He has a good defense game against the quicks as well, and with a batting average of around 34 - more than the other Sri Lankans in fray - he is a good pick at 8.5 credits.
Batsman: Ross Taylor (10 credits)
The player is in supreme form in ODI cricket. The Wellington-born Ross Taylor scored one hundfed and two fifties in the previous series against Sri Lanka earlier in January. He had a stellar 2018, and walks into the tournament as the third ranked batsman in the ODI rankings.
All-rounder: Thisara Perera (9.5 credits)
Perera was one of the most underrated performers in 2018, scoring 415 runs at an average of 35, but more importantly with a strike rate of 115.59. His bowling too got his accolades, with his 25 wickets coming against strong opponents. He ended the year with a bowling average of 20.72, and will hold the aces for the team in the middle order with the bat and also with the ball.
Bowler: Trent Boult (9 credits)
On the bowling front, Boult is ranked number 2 in the world, and he will be the key player in this upcoming clash. When the conditions have a hint of swing, Boult is a real threat, and if his performance against India in the warm-up is to go by, he will be hard to face in the main edition as well. Sri Lanka's top-order is not the most threatening, and if the conditions assist him, Boult could well walk away with a few wickets.
Captain: Trent Boult
Vice-captain: Thisara Perera
Predicted Playing XI:
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi
Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep
