SL vs NZ, 2nd Test: New Zealand Look To Exploit Sri Lanka's Oval Weakness

Sri Lanka will move up to the number five of the official ICC rankings if they win the second Test and the series

New Zealand will be hoping to add to Sri Lanka's poor record at their own Oval ground and level the series in the second and final Test starting Thursday. Unlike the spinner's paradise at Galle and the batting haven that is the SSC, the Oval favours seam bowlers. Sri Lanka have been often exposed here by quality seam bowlers and one up in the two-match series, they will have New Zealand's Trent Boult and Tim Southee -- and possibly Neil Wagner -- to contend with. In the last 10 years, Sri Lanka have played seven games at The Oval and lost five, including once to New Zealand. In that game seven years ago, Southee claimed eight wickets while Boult finished with seven. The opening Test was a lot closer than the six-wicket margin suggests and the New Zealanders know that fielding lapses cost them dearly after setting Sri Lanka a daunting task of 268 runs. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will leave out off-spinner Akila Dananjaya, whose action was reported to be suspect for a second time by match officials after the Galle Test. Dananjaya, who claimed a five-wicket haul in the opening game, was forced to remodel his action after it was first reported in November last year. Technically he is allowed to play the second Test, but he is likely to travel to India instead to test his action. Dilruwan Perera has been drafted into the squad and is expected to play. Sri Lanka will move up to the number five of the official ICC rankings if they win the second Test and the series. More importantly, it will give them a strong start in the World Test Championship. SQUADS: New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Captain), Jeet Raval, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Todd Astle, William Somerville, Mitchell Santner, Tom Blundell, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, B.J. Watling, Trent Boult,  Tim Southee, Ajaz Patel and Neil  Wagner. Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando.