Kiwis hope for Pallekele luck

Himanshu Shekhar / espnstar.com

Kiwis hope for Pallekele luck

New Zealand simply hope to finally get their tour of Sri Lanka off to a meaningful start as weather again threatens the first one-day international at Pallekele.

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The rain which badly affected the recent World Twenty20 in the country also forced a no-result in the 20-over curtain-raiser, the Black Cats limping to 74 for seven before play was halted.

The wisdom of staging matches in the traditional monsoon season has been questioned, but Kiwi coach Mike Hesson told stuff.co.nz: "A number of teams have toured over here at this time of year without quite as much disruption so hopefully come tomorrow and the rest of the tour we'll get some good weather."

The five 50-over fixtures will be played under the recently revised ODI playing conditions, with two blocks of powerplay overs.

The bowling powerplay has been done away with, leaving an opening 10-over block and a five-over batting powerplay, to be completed by the 40th overs, with four fielders, rather than the previous five, outside the circle.

New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor told the pre-match press conference: "The players and I guess the officials will need to adjust quickly.

"It's more a mindset change for our batsmen. We've got to get ourselves in and keep wickets in hand, and capitalise in the last 10 overs."

New Zealand will be without fast bowler Adam Milne for the opening game due to illness.

Taylor added: "(Milne) has picked up a bug and been out with it for the last couple of days. He won't be in consideration for this match, but hopefully he comes right and he'll be in consideration for the (second) match in Colombo."

Captain Mahela Jayawardene and Lasith Malinga are back in the Sri Lanka squad after being rested for the aborted Twenty20 clash.

Malinga is backed up in the bowling department by a host of all-rounder and Jayawardene said: "It's a good thing to have bowling options, but it doesn't mean that even though we have the options we must use them.

"Guys like Thisara (Perera) or (Tillakaratne) Dilshan, who didn't bowl in the recent past, can be used in other occasions. They add value to the team with the bat, with the ball and even in the field.

"That's why we have been more consistent in big tournaments. We have all those options in the team and whenever we require, we can use them."