Cricket: Positive moves for Sri Lankan tour

The one-day series has been replaced by a tri-series involving India. Photo / Sarah Ivey

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) secured two potentially significant concessions before the itinerary for next month's tour of Sri Lanka was finally confirmed yesterday.

Not only has the schedule been rearranged to include a second warm-up match, the first of two tests has been moved from the oppressive heat of Colombo to a more temperate Galle in the south of the country.

New Zealand's test specialists are still in danger of being underdone when they play their first test since India visited here in April, but they at least have another three-day game to acclimatise from winter nets.

A five-match one-day series has also been replaced by a tri-series involving India, a tournament that gives each side match practice before they head to South Africa for the Champions Trophy in late September.

Two Twenty20 matches sandwiched between the tests and one-dayers will likely mark the return to international duty for fast bowler Shane Bond, who is scheduled to join the tour with the other limited overs specialists after playing for New Zealand A in India. Confirmation of the schedule comes after NZC general manager Geoff Allott and New Zealand Cricket Players' Association executive manager Heath Mills visited Sri Lanka last week, along with an independent security firm, to assess security measures.

"Our initial impression is both Sri Lanka Cricket and the Government are making a significant effort to ensure player safety," Allott said.

"After talking with local authorities, the British and Australian High Commissions, and our security advisers, we believe that both Colombo and Galle are considered relatively safe locations at present."

Mills said the pre-tour check would be repeated before future tours to potentially threatening locations.

"It has helped us build stronger relationships with those on the ground in Sri Lanka responsible for various aspects of the tour."

Touring teams never venture to the north of the country, where until recently a civil war was waged between Tamil separatists and security forces.

New Zealand's tours to Sri Lanka in 1987 and 1993 were severely disrupted by bomb blasts. There was also a suicide bombing at Colombo airport during their 2001 visit but the tour continued unaffected.

The trip to Galle has another benefit - a change of scenery considering the players will spend the majority of their five-week stay at the same hotel in Colombo.

Meanwhile, if New Zealand do not make the tri-series final they are likely to play a one-dayer against an invitational side before heading to South Africa, where the Champions Trophy starts on September 24.

- NZPA