Ross Taylor and Tim Southee will sit out New Zealands first one-day international with Sri Lanka to rest ahead of the Cricket World Cup.Sundays ODI in Christchurch serves as both the opening instalment of a seven-match series and a dress rehearsal for next months World Cup curtain-raiser between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the same venue. With the latter fixture in mind, New Zealand have opted to hand Taylor and Southee, who has a minor hamstring problem, a short break. Batting coach Craig McMillan told reporters: Ross has gone home to spend a couple of days with the family. He wont be part of this first game. Tim Southee has gone home as well for a couple of days rest. Its important that we give some of the players...a little rest before we get into a really hectic season. Tim had a slight hammy niggle before that second Test [against Sri Lanka] in Wellington. Its just a little bit of time to recover, as much physically as mentally. There have been a couple of long tours thrown in as well and Tims played pretty much every format. Just a couple of days [rest] and hell come back when we head north [to Hamilton for the second ODI on Thursday]. Veteran seamer Kyle Mills will also miss Sundays match as he continues his recovery from a groin strain, so Matt Henry - who missed out on a place in New Zealands World Cup party - has joined the squad as cover. Sri Lanka are seeking to bounce back from a 2-0 Test series defeat at the hands of New Zealand, but must continue to cope without star paceman Lasith Malinga. The 31-year-old was included in Sri Lankas World Cup squad earlier this week, but chairman of selectors Sanath Jayasuriya acknowledged the decision represented a gamble as Malinga is still not fully fit after ankle surgery. It is hoped Malinga will be fit to feature in the final two one-dayers against New Zealand, on January 25 and 29. Sri Lanka have not played an ODI series in New Zealand for eight years, having drawn 2-2 on their last visit when the fifth and final ODI in Hamilton was washed out.
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 14:30:03 +0000
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