Mills appreciates familiar conditions in Pallekele

Captain Kyle Mills is banking on success at a familiar venue, ahead of New Zealand's two-match Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka.
Captain Kyle Mills is banking on success at a familiar venue, ahead of New Zealand's two-match Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka.
The Black Caps have been the most frequent visitor to the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, since its debut in 2010, on the back of four ODIs and six T20Is.
Their last visit to the region brought a seven-wicket defeat in November 2012, when wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling's brisk 96 not out was upstaged by opener Tillakaratne Dilshan's quickfire century.
"We have played a reasonable amount of cricket here. In the last World Twenty20 we had a few games here and quite a few ODI games as well," said Mills.
"We know it swings around at night time. When we played Pakistan here Ross Taylor got a big ton. We batted first got a decent score and it swung around at night.
"If the environmental conditions are right – if it's quite humid – it will possibly swing around again."
All-rounder Jimmy Neesham, Corey Anderson and Nathan McCullum have served the Black Caps' batting order well recently and, while Anderson has since been sidelined by an injury, McCullum remains a key mainstay.
The hard-hitting right-hander was in outstanding form in this month's ODI series against the same opposition, striking an unbeaten 32 from a mere nine deliveries to orchestrate an unlikely win in Hambantota.
"The late-order guys have been in pretty good form the whole way through. The scores we were able to manage in the series here and also in Bangladesh when we scored 200 in a T20 game and 300 in a 50-over game was really good, "added MIlls.
"McCullum has been in good form the whole way through and he had a pretty good Champions league and A series in Sri Lanka. We bat pretty deep, so we've got full confidence in our batting order. Hopefully the top order can score a few more runs."
Latest
-
News
Dan Lawrence adamant he will stick to ‘unique’ batting technique in Test arena
The 23-year-old should make his Test debut when England start their two-match series against Sri Lanka.
-
News
Steve Smith criticised for appearing to scuff Rishabh Pant’s guard in third Test
Former Australia captain Steve Smith was branded “childish” after an incident during the final day of their drawn third Test against India
-
News
Tim Paine admits he let the Australian bowlers down
Australia captain Tim Paine believes he was at least partially to blame for his side failing to bowl India.
-
News
Testing times on tour in Sri Lanka – the life of an international cricketer
Gloucestershire’s James Bracey is on his first overseas tour with England. Here he writes about his experiences so far in Sri Lanka.
-
News
India salvage unlikely draw in third Test against Australia
India salvaged an unlikely draw as the third Test against Australia reached a thrilling finale.
-
News
Chris Silverwood backs ‘fighter’ Dan Lawrence to make step up to Test cricket
The Essex batsmen is in line for an England Test debut against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
-
News
Ravichandran Ashwin condemns alleged racial abuse of Mohammed Siraj by SCG fans
Play was halted on day four of the third Test between Australia and India while six spectators were escorted out of Sydney Cricket Ground by police.
-
News
Investigation launched after Indian players allegedly abused by crowd in Sydney
Play was held up while police and security guards escorted six people from Sydney Cricket Ground.
-
News
Jos Buttler determined to keep standards high with gloves and bat in Sri Lanka
The 30-year-old has Ben Foakes and Jonny Bairstow for competition in the England side.
-
News
England’s Dom Bess thinks pitch for Friday’s warm-up won’t be repeated in series
England finally took to the pitch in Hambantota for a low-key workout between Team Root and Team Buttler.