World Cup 2015: Sri Lanka eager to end losing habit against 'best-prepared' New Zealand

Christchurch: Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has demanded an immediate end to the losing habit that has infected his side in the lead up to Saturday's World Cup opener against New Zealand in Christchurch.

The "fighting spirit" was not there he said Friday as he reviewed a disappointing build up to cricket's premier ODI tournament.

Despite leading a side stacked with high performers, Mathews has seen his side crash to a 4-2 series defeat against New Zealand last month and then lose two World Cup warm-up games against South Africa and Zimbabwe.

They were performances far removed from previous Sri Lankan sides that won the 1996 World Cup and were runners up in the last two tournaments in 2007 and 2011.

"In the recent past, especially in New Zealand, we've found ways of losing games more than winning games and I think our late middle order haven't produced good results for us," he said.

"We had a couple of bad practice matches as well, but we're not too concerned (about them) because we gave guys opportunities and we tried out a few things."

Whether batting first or second against New Zealand, Sri Lanka made a flying start through stars such as Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan but once they were removed the wickets fell cheaply.

Mathews believed the biggest lesson Sri Lanka have learned is they need to change their approach and not the players.

"It's the fighting spirit that we've got to bring into it. When you lose a few games you tend to be a bit more down and you've got to fight hard," he said.

"It's going to be a fresh series for us, it's going to be the start of the World Cup.

"We've put everything under the carpet and we're just going to go out there and be positive."

An added motivation to lift their game is to produce a fitting farewell to Sangakkara and Jaywardene, the 37-year-old batting kingpins who have indicated this World Cup is their last outing on the ODI stage.

"The amount of service they have rendered to our team has been invaluable. They've performed to the best of their ability and just want to win all the time so it will be a fitting farewell if we can do it for them."

Sangakkara needs 12 more runs to overtake Australian Ricky Ponting as the second most prolific ODI batsman behind India's master Sachin Tendulkar.

Jayawardene is fifth on the all-time list.

Sri Lanka have been buoyed by the return of Lasith Malinga, their strike bowler who has a history of tormenting New Zealand at the top of the innings and at the death.

He has been sidelined by an ankle injury for nearly six months but Mathews confirmed he would play on Saturday although the rest of the line up has not been settled.

"He's fit to go," he said of the player he considers the "x-factor" in the Sri Lanka team and if the toss goes their way he will be bowling late in the day with Mathews wanting to bat first to set a target on a pitch he believes is laden with runs.

McCullum hails 'best-prepared' New Zealand team:

Upbeat Brendon McCullum believes the New Zealand side he leads into the World Cup opener against Sri Lanka in Christchurch on Saturday is the best prepared Kiwi team he has known.

The 33-year-old, heading into his fourth World Cup, is not prepared to pick a tournament winner but he has no doubt New Zealand will be in the mix at the end despite their world ranking of six.

After winning four of their past five ODI series, the feeling of hope that previous New Zealand teams clung to has been replaced by belief, he said.

(Photo: AFP)

"It's the best prepared team, all round team, we tick most boxes," he said Friday as the team headed out to their final practice at the Hagley Oval before cricket's 44-day glamour tournament begins.

"The style of play is something we're comfortable with. We've had different personnel come in and out over the last little while but the game plan has always remained the same.

"Overall we've got a nice mix of youth and experience. It's a team I'm really comfortable taking into a World Cup and we give ourselves a good chance."

Heading into the tournament New Zealand have comfortably won series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the past six weeks and beaten highly-rated South Africa in a warm-up game this week.

They have shown they can win both defending and chasing a target, although McCullum conceded they had not faced Sri Lankan ace Lasith Malinga who is poised to return after a lengthy injury layoff.

"He makes a significant difference to their bowling line up, predominantly more at the back end of the game in terms of his death bowling," he said.

"He's a phenomenal death bowler and he's going to be a factor which we will have to overcome if we're going to succeed in this game.

"But if we can head into those final overs with a nice platform then hopefully we can put him under a bit of pressure. But certainly Sri Lanka is a stronger team for Lasith Malinga's involvement."

New Zealand's batting order appears solid, particularly with the high-scoring Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor at three and four if the big-hitting approach of openers McCullum and Martin Guptill does not pay off.

The only selection difficulty is choosing three from a pace attack of five talented bowlers including Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Kyle Mills, Mitchell McClenaghan and Adam Milne.

McCullum said the balance of the squad gave him a confidence he had not experienced at previous World Cups.

"You always hoped things would work out well but did you genuinely believe it? Maybe, maybe not. But, we believe (this) is a good cricket team and we believe we have a chance in this World Cup.

But he tempered his enthusiasm saying he was loath to pick the eventual winner in a tournament that could well be decided by one piece of individual brilliance.

"I guess that's the major fear. When you're dominating a game and you're in a position of authority and one of those match winners comes out and takes the game away from you.

"It could be any one of the eight top nations."

Factbox:

New Zealand:

Captain: Brendon McCullum

Coach: Mike Hesson

Squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Daniel Vettori, Luke Ronchi, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult, Mitchell McClenaghan.

Results so far at 2015 World Cup: First game

Sri Lanka:

Captain: Angelo Mathews

Coach: Marvan Attapatu

Squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera

Results so far at 2015 World Cup: First game

New Zealand v Sri Lanka head to head:

Total played: 89

New Zealand won 41, Sri Lanka won 40; tied 1; no result 7

Played at Hagley Oval:

Played: 1

New Zealand won 1, Sri Lanka won 0

Last match:

Jan 29, 2015 - Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 34 runs at Wellington Regional Stadium