Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st Test Toss & Playing 11: Hosts Opt To Bat First in Galle

Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva won the toss and opted to bat first against New Zealand in the series opening Test at the Galle International Stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka on Wednesday (September 18).

The home side has made two changes to their playing 11 from the one that beat England in their most recent red ball outing in London with spinners Ramesh Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya coming in for pacers Milan Rathnayake and Vishwa Fernando.

Sri Lanka opt to bat first against New Zealand in the 1st Test

The Blackcaps led by Tim Southee, who saw their most recent Test outing end in abandonment, have opted for two specialist spinners and two pacers with a couple of batters, who can roll their arm over with more spin bowling.

Southee and William O'Rourke will share the pace bowling responsibilities for the visitors, while Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel will get support from Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips in the spin department.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Sri Lanka captain De Silva said, "Obvious reason to bat here in Galle. We're playing 2 pacers and 2 spinners. The mood is good and the team is well motivated."

New Zealand skipper Southee, who also would have loved to bat first said, "This surface will play well for all 5 days. Two quicks and two spinners with some part-time options as well.

"It's nice to have some sunshine and the chance to play. A number of guys have been part of Tests here, we've had a couple of winms in Colombo, but it's always a tough place for us."

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st Test Playing 11

Sri Lanka XI vs NZ: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper), Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Kamindu Mendis, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.

New Zealand XI vs SL: Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee (captain), Ajaz Patel, William ORourke.