An illness-depleted New Zealand were bamboozled in the face of pace and spin as Sri Lanka cruised to a 202-run victory in the first test on Saturday to lead the two-match series.

Pioneering Pakistani offspinner Saqlain Mushtaq and a gangly English kid are giving the Black Caps a good insight into what they will face in the first test against Sri Lanka next week.

Arts, sports, business - have Kiwis lost the 'winning gene', the ability to really deliver on the world stage?