Cricket: Black Caps back Sri Lanka decision to go home

New Zealand coach John Bracewell went straight to the airport to wish the Sri Lankan cricketers well after their tour was postponed today.

Bracewell said he had huge sympathy for the tourists and was accompanied by team manager Ross Dykes to farewell them.

"To put things in perspective it's not a difficult time for the Black Caps at all, but a very difficult time for the Sri Lankans," Bracewell told Radio Sport.

"We've just been down there to offer what small comfort we can in wishing them all the best for where they're going and what they're going into."

Bracewell said the Black Caps were immediately thinking what assistance they could provide, with the possibility of a charity match sometime in the future.

Star allrounder Chris Cairns had put his hand up to look into the possibilities.

"Chris is dealing with that as part of our senior players group.

"He'd taken it on as he had done with the floods (in New Zealand last February) in terms of organising the players.

"That's something we may deal with when we know where we stand."

New Zealand's next international assignment is the tour by world champions Australia which starts on February 17.

The postponement of the current Sri Lanka one-day series meant New Zealand now had no chance of vying with Australia in February for the world No 1 ranking in one-day cricket.

For now the Black Caps would return to domestic cricket, with matches scheduled today in Taupo, Nelson and Alexandra.

"We decided we wanted to keep them in as much cricket as possible, keep the momentum going," Bracewell said.

"Our season's been so long that we really just wanted to roll it on towards the end of March.

"When you think that over an eight-year period Daniel Vettori's played eight first-class games for Northern Districts, it does give those guys a rare opportunity to play domestic cricket."

New Zealand batsman Mathew Sinclair sympathised with the Sri Lankan cricket team's decision.

Speaking from Nelson, where he joined the Central Districts team for today's State Shield clash against Canterbury, Sinclair said like everyone he was shocked at what had happened.

"I'm not surprised at all that the Sri Lankans have cancelled the tour," he said.

"I think it is the only thing for them to do in the situation. They obviously have friends and relatives at home badly affected and want to go back and help.

"It would be difficult to concentrate on cricket.

"It would have taken the edge away from them and it would have been difficult for us to focus fully as well.

"Not only Sri Lankans are affected, there's a lot of New Zealanders unaccounted for as well."

He had not had the chance to speak to Sri Lankan players since the disaster, but said the New Zealand team had conveyed their sympathies to the visitors.

He would have no hesitation in taking part in any fundraising venture New Zealand Cricket created to help the tsunami victims.

Sri Lankan manager Brendon Kuruppu said the mood in the camp had noticeably improved when the decision was confirmed late last night.

"The players are really relieved," he told NZPA from Napier today.

Kuruppu was frustrated by packed holiday schedules which saw the team temporarily stranded in Napier and having to travel in small groups to get to Auckland, then back to Sri Lanka.

"I'm trying to figure out a way to get them home."

Some players were scheduled to leave today while others had to wait until tomorrow.

- NZPA