Matt Henry of New Zealand Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Black Caps pace bowler Matt Henry is confident the side can reset and focus on Sri Lanka in the wake of their thrilling win over England in Wellington last week.
The one run victory was just the second match in almost a 150 years of test cricket to be decided by such a slim margin.
The Black Caps now face Sri Lanka, who still have a slim chance of making the World Test Championship final if they can beat New Zealand 2-nil.
Henry says while the England win was pleasing they were more pleased with turning the game around after following-on and it's those characteristics they need to show again when today's test starts at Hagley Oval.
"We're very pleased with how the last game turned out but I think we're more impressed with how we played and the nature we played the game that we went about our work," Henry said on the eve of the test.
"So hopefully we can go out there and show those characteristics again and get back into some good test cricket."
Henry took six wickets in the win over England at the Basin Reserve and played a key role as the homeside strove for victory on the final day.
That was despite suffering a back spasm that forced him off the field for a time.
"It's all good, I've been doing some work since Wellington and so I should be fighting fit and ready to go."
The Canterbury pace man is looking forward to the pace and bounce his home track will offer.
He says Sri Lanka's batsman will test the bowling group in a different way to England's aggression of recent weeks.
"Sri Lanka will pose different challenges and they've got a strong batting line-up as well, so obviously it'll be a different way.
Matt Henry hugs Neil Wagner after the second test win over England Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"But as a group we talk a lot about adapting out there and assessing the conditions and how we're going about (our work).
"We've obviously got our plans and how we want to approach the game with specific players."
31 year old Henry will be playing just his 20th test in Christchurch today.
In the first Test against South Africa at Hagley Oval last year Henry produced his best bowling figures of seven for 23.
They have never won more than a single test in New Zealand and their last victory was in 2006, when Mahela Jayawardene's team split a 1-1 series with the Stephen Fleming-captained hosts.
New Zealand may bring in another pace bowler in Blair Tickner in place of a batsman.
The Black Caps will also be chasing their first series victory in the current World Test Championship cycle.
The second Test is in Wellington next week.
