New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI Tips - Hosts Favourites Against Resurgent Sri Lanka

By Nikhil Kalro

03 Jan 2025

Nikhil Kalro 03 Jan 2025

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New Zealand enters as favorites for the first ODI against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka gains confidence from recent T20I win despite challenging conditions.
Key players like Tom Latham return for NZ, boosting the squad's lineup.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka (Getty Images)

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka First ODI Preview
New Zealand Form
New Zealand Team News
Sri Lanka Form
Sri Lanka Team News

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka First ODI Preview

New Zealand will head into the first ODI of their home summer as favourites against a team that has often found a bit of form in the country as was evident from their win in the final T20I in Nelson.

Even though New Zealand won that T20 series 2-1, Sri Lanka will take plenty of confidence from their fight and resolve in tricky conditions for batting.

The focus now, however, certainly moves to preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy later in the year. Both teams have enjoyed success in the format, albeit to different levels in the last few months. Away from home, this may be one of Sri Lanka’s trickier tours, particularly in the absence of some key players.

New Zealand, on the other hand, will look to their younger players for a bit of relief after a loss in the final T20I. Tom Latham will return to the squad, which will be bolstered by Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips.

New Zealand Form

New Zealand found Jacob Duffy in fantastic form in the T20I series, where he was given the Player Of The Series.

He picked up seven wickets in the first two games, which set up the series win for the hosts against a resurgent batting unit.

"I think it's just nice to be able to contribute towards the New Zealand team," Duffy said. "I've sort of been around a while now, doing little bits here and there without probably really any genuine and match-winning contributions. To have that sort of impact on a game and a series is pretty special and hopefully more to come."

Along with Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke, Duffy and the rest of the New Zealand seam-bowling department should have plenty of rhythm going into the ODI series.

New Zealand Team News

New Zealand have retained the majority of the squad that played the T20I series. Mitchell Santner will continue to lead the hosts. He will take up the spin-bowling duties along with Michael Bracewell and the part-time offspin of Phillips.

Sri Lanka Form

Sri Lanka can take away so much of confidence from the final T20I, where Kusal Perera’s hundred set up a consolation win. Apart from the second match, where Sri Lanka lost by 46 runs, they were in the contest for large parts of that series.

Even the form of the bowlers was in good shape. With Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara, who performed admirably in the series against South Africa, Sri Lanka have enough in their pace department to challenge New Zealand’s batters.

Sri Lanka Team News

Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara should form the core of the fast-bowling department with Maheesh Theekshana likely to be the main spinner in the team along with allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga. Kusal Mendis should continue to take the gloves for the ODI series.

Verdict

New Zealand v Sri Lanka - 1st ODI

While Sri Lanka have already showed a propensity to compete on this tour, there are a few gaps that New Zealand are likely to exploit. New Zealand have several horses-for-courses players in their squad that have plied their trade in domestic cricket in these conditions.

New Zealand Win

Match Result

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