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Placed above the BLACKCAPS in both the Test and One Day International rankings when they arrived just before Christmas, the 2014-15 Sri Lankans have offered New Zealand supporters a fresh gauge on just how well their team is performing – both in terms of the Test pathway and the lead-in to the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Sri Lanka have always been one of the most popular and talented modern-era sides to visit New Zealand and this summer’s incarnation continued that tradition, boasting players of the quality of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Rangana Herath across both the ANZ International Series. 

All the more impressive then, that the BLACKCAPS were able to secure the ANZ Test series 2-nil (in the process claiming a New Zealand record fifth Test win in a calendar year and leap-frogging both Sri Lanka and India in the ICC Test rankings to reach No.5) and then sew up the ANZ One Day International Series with a game in hand.

The upshot is that, depending on results in the Tri Series across the Tasman, if the BLACKCAPS follow up the success against Sri Lanka with dual wins in the upcoming two ANZ One Day Internationals against Pakistan, they could emulate the Test side and rise to No.5 in the ICC ODI Rankings.

The next time New Zealand and Sri Lanka meet? Well, that will be the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 opening game at Hagley Oval on Saturday, 14^th February.