Stand-in Kiwi skipper Kyle Mills backs team's youngsters to give 'tough fight'to Sri Lanka

Stand-in New Zealand captain Kyle Mills has said that his team's young batsmen are more than capable of giving Sri Lanka a tough fight in the upcoming three-match one-day series starting on November 10.

Hit by injuries to skipper Brendon McCullum and vice-captain Kane Williamson, and with former captain Ross Taylor rested, New Zealand have named a young and inexperienced team for their short tour that also consists of two T20 internationals.

According to Stuff.co.nz, however, Mills hailed his team as one of the most exciting cricketing teams to leave New Zealand shores against criticisms of weakness, adding that he is confident the young players on the tour to Sri Lanka will mark their names in people's minds by showcasing their talent on the international stage.

Stating that the tour is a great opportunity for them as a team and for their young members, Mills also said that although he did not expect to captain his country at the age of 34, he believes that he will enjoy the challenge, which has been thrust upon him by the injuries to McCullum and Williamson.

Although New Zealand lost the three-match ODI series 3-0 to Bangladesh but Mills stated that winning the last game, a T20 international, has boosted their confidence for the Sri Lankan series given that they had scored nearly 400 runs in the game.