Kiwis seek redemption against Sri Lanka

WELLINGTON, Sunday (Reuters) - New Zealand's cricketers are hoping to redeem themselves after their heavy loss to Australia when the first test against Sri Lanka starts at McLean Park in Napier on Monday.

With Muttiah Muralitharan unavailable as he recovers from injury and Sri Lanka playing their first test since October, the New Zealanders are hoping for an easier time than the mauling they received from the Australians.

"We've had a tough month," coach John Bracewell told the New Zealand Herald.

"(But) I think we've probably got to take advantage of the fact that they might be slightly underdone. That's the edge we should be carrying in to Napier.

"We need to go into the test with a hard attitude, determined to cut down our error rate and not let the pressure affect our inexperience."

The two-test series was originally due to be played in January but was postponed because of the devastating Asian tsunami. The second test will be played in Wellington from April 11.

The Sri Lankans have played only a handful of first-class matches since then and their only warm-up match in New Zealand was hit by rain.

"We'll really have to take advantage of the fact that we're match-hardened," Bracewell said.

"Our guys are looking forward to it. I've heard no one talking negatively, they really want to play these games and get stuck into it."

New Zealand will be without Daniel Vettori for the opening test after the left-arm spinner was ordered to rest. He was replaced by Kyle Mills in the 12-man squad. Vettori was New Zealand's outstanding player against Australia but his heavy workload took its toll and he complained of a sore back.

New Zealand have struggled with injuries all season and will be without a host of frontline players for the series including Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Ian Butler and Daryl Tuffey.

The Sri Lankans will also be under strength but do have one thing in their favour: the last time any test was played at McLean Park, a decade ago, Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 241 runs.

Teams:

New Zealand - Stephen Fleming (captain), Craig Cumming, James Marshall, Hamish Marshall, Nathan Astle, Lou Vincent, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Paul Wiseman, James Franklin, Chris Martin, Iain O'Brien (12th man)

Sri Lanka (from) - Marvan Atapattu (captain), Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Shantha Kalavitigoda, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Rangana Herath, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ruchira Perera

Umpires: Darrell Hair (Australia), Steve Bucknor (West Indies)