The Hamilton test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was a thrilling affair, as the hosts, due to the resolute and brave captaincy from Brendon McCullum won the match. Going into the second test at Hamilton, the pitch shall always remain under the scanner. Sri Lankan coach Jerome Jayaratne has already stated that the Hamilton wicket has been doctored to suit the home side.
“My intelligence tells me that it has been known to take spin as the game goes on,” Jayaratne said. “But I am assuming here that the wicket has been doctored to suit the New Zealanders, which is understandable. There is more than 18 millimetres of grass on the wicket,” the Sri Lankan coach said.
“I think this pitch will have a lot more bounce and carry than the one in Dunedin,” Jayaratne said. “They’re looking for a lot of moisture and sideways movement. I think it will be different from the Hamilton wickets before. As the game goes on, it might slow down, but for now there’s a lot of grass on the track,” Jayaratne added about the track.
Speaking about the adjustments that Sri Lankan bowlers need to make, Jayaratne said, “I think we need to improve our lines a little bit more. If our lines were tighter we could have kept them under control in Dunedin. I think we’ll bowl a little bit straighter to them and make them play, more often than not.”