India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand hope to put in impressive performances in a tri-series starting here Tuesday to boost confidence ahead of the Champions Trophy. Mahendra Singh Dhoni's India side starts as favorite despite missing injured opener Virender Sehwag and paceman Zaheer Khan, having beaten both New Zealand and Sri Lanka in their own backyards in their last one-day series. India is seeking a hat trick of wins in Sri Lanka after clinching a pair of bilateral five-match series in August 2008 and in February this year. Each team will play two league matches before the top two qualify for the final Sept. 14. The hosts clash with New Zealand in Tuesday's opening game. Sri Lanka's record-breaking Muttiah Muralitharan believes the series will help the teams prepare for the eight-nation Champions Trophy which opens in South Africa on Sept. 22. “The tri-series will be good preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy,” said the off-spinner who is the world's leading wicket-taker in Tests (783) and One-Day Internationals (511). Daniel Vettori's New Zealanders salvaged some of their reputation when they stunned the host in two Twenty20 internationals last week after being whitewashed in the preceding two-Test series. “The guys will take a lot of confidence from that,” Vettori said after his team's Twenty20 success. Focus will be on Indian batsman Rahul Dravid and New Zealand paceman Shane Bond, returning to one-day sides after playing their last match in 2007. Dravid got the selectors' nod after a couple of younger batsmen failed to cope with short-pitched deliveries in the World Twenty20 in England in June. India's South African coach Gary Kirsten welcomed Dravid's return. “It's good to have him back,” Kirsten said recently. “He is a very experienced player and adds massive value to the team. He is a natural performer.” India will play New Zealand Friday and takes on Sri Lanka Saturday in back-to-back matches. NZ to host six Tests New Zealand will host a record six Tests in the coming Southern Hemisphere summer during tours by Pakistan, Bangladesh and Australia, officials said Monday. In a busy international program, New Zealand will also host eight ODIs and three Twenty20 matches, New Zealand Cricket said. Pakistan arrives in mid-November to play three Tests after a scheduled tour there by New Zealand was canceled for security reasons. In February Bangladesh arrives for a short tour including one Twenty20 international, three ODIs and one Test. Australia will tour from late February, playing two Twenty20 internationals, five ODIs and two Tests. Vaughan said the number of Tests against Australia had been cut from three to help alleviate scheduling conflicts with the lucrative Indian Premier League T20 season.
