Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Sri Lanka's spin-doctors will be rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of taking on New Zealand on their home spoil. The Kiwis are a weak force in Test cricket now. Against spin, they seem clueless and cornered.
It is not as if they don't have the capability. The problem is the team does not play enough Tests and this has blocked the progress of many a talent.
With may pundits predicting that Test cricket is in its death throes, there is a chance that the Kiwis may not push themselves for higher achievements.
There are many players in the side who would opt for the quick fix Twenty-20 instead of grinding it out five days in the sun. There is also the lure of riches for spending just three hours on the field spread out over the year.
However, a team will have to go through the rigours of Test matches to earn recognition. It is a pity that the Kiwis have opted more for one-day cricket than Tests in recent times.
The current team must not forget that it has a good history in Tests. They had the capability of upsetting some of the best teams in the world.
They also came out well in their Trans-Tasman clashes with Australia. New Zealand has produced world-class players like Glenn Turner, Martin Crowe and the great Sir Richard Hadlee.
There may be another great lurking among the young players who are touring Sri Lanka. They deserve a chance to express themselves at the highest level.
Players like Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder have it in them to bring back the glory days of New Zealand cricket.
Sri Lanka is never an easy place to tour. The home team are champions on their own turf.
But a few chinks did appear against Pakistan in the recently concluded series. The Kiwis must capitalise on that.
The batting must click if the Kiwis want to go far. Taylor and Jesse Ryder will have to lead the way.
Taylor is a free-stroking batsman whose aggression can counter the spinners. Thankfully, Ryder has overcome his fondness for alcohol and increased his appetite for runs.
There are other useful players like Daniel Flynn and Martin Guptill who have the potential to grow in the game.
Another key factor will be the fitness and form of Jacob Oram. The all-rounder has been plagued by injuries in the recent past and his form has dwindled along with it.
Lurking in the lower order is the fast and furious Brendon McCullum who, on his day, can tear any bowling apart.
The Kiwis must bat positively to succeed because that is the best way to tackle spin. This will give captain Daniel Vettori and the others a chance with the ball. New Zealand must work hard to recapture their former glory. Their ability to upset the big teams is needed to reaffirm the importance of Test cricket.
