Summary The pitch has a distinct green tinge and the weather is overcast with a blustery southerly wind.
WELLINGTON, (AFP) - Sri Lanka won the toss and sent New Zealand into bat in bowler friendly conditions in the second and final Test in Wellington Saturday.
The pitch has a distinct green tinge and the weather is overcast with a blustery southerly wind.
"It was a pretty easy decision," Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews said on bowling first in an attempt to square the series after losing the first Test in Christchurch by eight wickets.
"There s a lot of grass on it and with four seamers including myself we will look to take early advantage."
Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath and New Zealand strike bowler Tim Southee, who were under an injury cloud on the eve of the Test, have been cleared to play.
Herath s inclusion for Tharindu Kaushal is one of three changes to the Sri Lanka side, with Dinesh Chandimal replacing Niroshan Dickwella and Nuwan Pradeep in for Shaminda Eranga.
New Zealand have made one change, with fast bowler Doug Bracewell coming in for Neil Wagner in what captain Brendon McCullum described as a "horses for courses" selection.
Teams:
New Zealand - Brendon McCullum, Trent Boult, Mark Craig, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Doug Bracewell, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson
Sri Lanka - Angelo Mathews, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Prasanna Jayawardena, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Pradeep, Dhammika Prasad, Suranga Lakmal
