Mathews: We have got to start off from zero

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Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews is expecting a very tough tour to New Zealand, but has insisted that the Asian side can upstage the Kiwis in their own conditions.

The Sri Lankans will be in New Zealand for two Tests, five ODIs and two T20s which will run over the new-year period, the first Test starts in Dunedin on 10 December.

The Asian team will go on tour full of confidence after they beat the West Indies at home in all three formats recently, but Mathews knows that his team will have to start from scratch against the Black Caps.

Mathews said: "We played some really good cricket against the West Indies, we outplayed them in all three departments in all formats but it will be a completely different tour in New Zealand because conditions and the opposition are different.

"We have got to start off from zero, this is a bigger challenge for us because the weather is not going to be on our side, it will be tough and cold but it's the mental aspect.

"If we can get our mindset right we shouldn't be too worried about the cold or anything else and make any excuses, we can just go on the tour and play to win.

"New Zealand is a very competitive and strong team, not only at home but away as well. In the last couple of years they have played their best cricket.

"They are a very competitive unit right now, with a very good, balanced team of youth and experience and it's going to be a tough ask for us to beat them. But I am pretty sure if we do our very best we can beat them."

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