Stiff competition among Kiwi pacers for final berth in playing 11: Craig McMillan

At 26, Tim Southee is the most experienced of the four bowlers who are fighting for a place in the Kiwi side

Christchurch, Dec 24: New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan has said there is intense competition among the quick bowlers in the squad for a place in the final 11 and whoever misses out on playing the first Test against Sri Lanka here will be unlucky.

New Zealand take on Sri Lanka in the first Test of a two-match series starting at the Hagley Oval here Friday with all four pacers in the squad - Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell and Neil Wagner - in with a shout for a final team berth.

"At this stage everyone is in the running. (Selection) will be discussed over the next 24 hours," McMillan ws quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz Wednesday.

"I don't think so. It's going to be a tough call whatever way the selectors decide to go. They're both bowling beautifully and have done a good job whenever they've been asked."

McMillan said the wicket will suit the quicks of both the sides.

"It is green, but it doesn't look any different to what we had last summer against the West Indies and India, and from memory we didn't win too many tosses throughout those two series," McMillan said.

"The fast bowlers have a little bit of a smile on their face, seeing a bit of green grass, which we haven't really seen for the last eight weeks. We batted first in most of those conditions, so if that happens again we know we've done it before."