Sri Lanka v New Zealand first Test: How to watch, TV channel, start time, head-to-head stats and team news

Sri Lanka are back at home following their 2-1 series defeat in England to play New Zealand in a two-Test series.

Both matches are being played in Galle, with the first Test being staged taking place between September 18th and 22nd.

How to watch Sri Lanka v New Zealand and TV channel

You can watch Sri Lanka against New Zealand in the first of two Tests live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

Sri Lanka v New Zealand start time, date and venue

The match will be staged at the Galle International Stadium, with action on day one starting at 05:30 BST on Wednesday 18th September.

Sri Lanka v New Zealand stats and head-to-head record (H2H)

Sri Lanka and New Zealand first met in a Test match in Christchurch in 1983, a match won by the Black Caps by an innings and 25 runs.

The Islanders had to wait nine years and 10 matches before they finally beat the Black Caps, winning by nine wickets in Colombo.

Since June 1998, Sri Lanka have lost only two of the 10 Test matches they have played against New Zealand on home soil.

Sri Lanka are full of confidence after signing off their tour of England by beating Ollie Pope's side in the third Test at The Oval, while New Zealand have not played a Test since March, having been denied a run-out last week courtesy of a wash-out against Afghanistan.

Sri Lanka v New Zealand head-to-head record (H2H)

Sri Lanka wins	9
Draws	11
New Zealand wins	18

*H2H stats refer to Test matches

Sri Lanka v New Zealand team news

Sri Lanka team news

Kusal Mendis will take the gloves after Dinesh Chandimal hurt his back behind the stumps against England in the third test at The Oval and is likely to drop down to No.7 as a result.

The Lankans used a quartet of seamers to unsettle England in London, but at Galle, where spin is king, they are set to play just two quicks, Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara, with slow bowlers Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis drafted in.

New Zealand team news

Matt Henry's experience could earn him the second seamer’s place alongside skipper Tim Southee.

Frontline spinners Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel are backed up by Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell as further options.