Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test Series 2024 starts on September 18 - watch live in India

The Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test Series 2024 will start in Galle on September 18.

Sri Lanka and New Zealand will play a two-match Test series which is scheduled to kick start on Wednesday at 10:00 AM IST. Live streaming and telecast for the series, which will be part of the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, will be available in India.

The first Test will run from September 18 to September 23 and it will be a rare six-day match with a rest day pitted in between. The rest day will fall on Saturday, September 21 with Parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka slated for that day.

The second and final Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test match will be played between September 26 and 30. Both matches will be held at the Galle International Stadium.

Sri Lanka come into the series after an eight-wicket win in the third Test against England at the Oval. However, they lost the three-match series 1-2 to the home side. 

Sri Lanka have retained almost the same side that travelled to England for the Test series with the exception of Kasun Rajitha and Nisala Tharaka who have been omitted. Top-order batter Oshada Fernando also comes into the side in place of Nishan Madushka.

New Zealand, meanwhile, lost important game time in the sub-continent as their only Test match against Afghanistan got washed out in Greater Noida last week. The Kiwis last played a Test match in March 2024 in a 0-2 series loss at home to Australia. 

Fast bowler Tim Southee will lead the New Zealand team as they bid for a first Test series win in Sri Lanka after a gap of 40 years with their last series win on the island nation coming in 1984. 

Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra are all part of a strong New Zealand squad that will take the field in Sri Lanka.

New Zealand are currently ranked third in the World Test Championship 2023-25 points table whereas Sri Lanka are in the fifth spot.

As far as the ICC Test rankings are concerned, New Zealand are in fifth spot, one position above Sri Lanka in sixth.

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand head-to-head in Tests

Sri Lanka and New Zealand have played each other in 38 Test matches with the latter having an upper hand in the head-to-head record with 18 wins. Sri Lanka have won on nine occasions while 11 matches ended in draws. 

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 58 runs when the sides last met in Wellington in March 2023. New Zealand have also won a Test against Sri Lanka in each of their last two tours which had ended in 1-1 draws.

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Tests 2024 schedule and live match start times

All match times are in India Standard Time (IST)

Where to watch ⁠Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Tests 2024 live in India

The Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test series 2024 will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD channels in India

Live streaming of the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test Series 2024 will be available on the FanCode app and website in India.

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Tests 2024 squads

Sri Lanka Test squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Oshada Fernando, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Ramesh Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake, Jeffrey Vandersay

New Zealand Test squad: Tim Southee (captain), Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Kane Williamson, Will Young

Photo credit: Imago