Sri Lanka bats first after winning toss in Galle Test against New Zealand

Sri Lanka has chosen to bat first after winning the toss in the opening Test match against New Zealand at the Galle International Stadium. This match marks New Zealand's return to Test cricket after a six-month hiatus, following a warm-up match against Afghanistan that was washed out. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, is coming off a challenging three-match Test series in England, which they lost 2-1. Both teams have opted for two spinners in their line-ups, with Sri Lanka selecting Prabath Jayasuriya as a left-arm spinner and Ramesh Mendis as an off-spinner. New Zealand has also chosen two left-arm spinners, Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner, indicating a strategy to exploit the spin-friendly conditions in Galle. The Sri Lankan team features notable players such as Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, and Angelo Mathews, while New Zealand's squad includes key figures like Tom Latham and Kane Williamson. The match is being officiated by umpires Michael Gough and Ahsan Raza, with Nitin Menon serving as the TV umpire and Javagal Srinath as the match referee. This Test is crucial for both teams, as Sri Lanka aims to bounce back from their recent series defeat, while New Zealand looks to regain form after their long absence from the format. The outcome of this match could set the tone for the series ahead, making it an important contest for both sides.