Watch the first Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka live on Sky Sports Cricket from 9.55pm on Friday
Thursday 13 December 2018 18:03, UK
Seamer Tim Southee is hopeful a green Basin Reserve wicket will help New Zealand to build on their historic series win over Pakistan when they take on Sri Lanka in Friday's first Test in Wellington.
Southee, 30, took just five wickets in three Tests on slow, low pitches in the United Arab Emirates as the Black Caps secured an away series win over Pakistan for the first time in almost 50 years.
"It's nice to be back in conditions we're used to," said Southee, who has 224 Test wickets. "We've come from a place that wasn't easy for pace bowlers, so there was a bit of a spring in the step of the fast bowlers anyway.
"It's nice to see some grass on the wicket but we don't know what it's going to play like until we get out there. You can get in and it can be a batting paradise as well."
New Zealand enter the two-match series, their first at home under new coach Gary Stead, fresh from defeating Pakistan 2-1 but Southee said they had already moved on and were focused on Dinesh Chandimal's side.
"It's something the group is very proud of," he said of the victory. "A lot of good sides have gone to the UAE and haven't been able to tip Pakistan up.
"We know we can't let that overhang into our home summer and start afresh in different conditions."
Chandimal returns as captain of Sri Lanka after missing the final two Tests of the recent series defeat to England because of injury.
He heads a 17-man squad that includes seamers Lahiru Kumara and Nuwan Pradeep, while Dimuth Karunaratne will act as vice-captain.
Watch day one of the first Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka live on Sky Sports Cricket from 9.55pm on Friday.
