Cricket: NZ bowl first in Sri Lanka

GALLE, Sri Lanka - New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and opted to bowl first when the rain-delayed first cricket test against Sri Lanka gets underway at the Galle International Stadium here today.

Play was delayed for 90 minutes following an early morning downpour and more disruptions are possible during the course of the series opener.

New Zealand has made one change from the side that played their second warm-up match against a development XI in Colombo last week, Jesse Ryder returning from illness in place of Craig Cumming.

Daryl Tuffey, Grant Elliott and reserve wicketkeeper Reece Young are also omitted.

Sri Lanka has made two changes from their side that drew the third and final test with Pakistan last month. Spinner Ajantha Mendis comes in for left armer Ragana Herath while the return from injury of first choice wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene to the middle order sees Tillakaratne Dilshan, his replacement behind the stumps during last month's series with Pakistan, promoted to open the batting at the expense of Malinda Warnapura.

The teams have met once at Galle: in June 1998, Sri Lanka won the ground's inaugural test by an innings and 16 runs.

The series ends with the second test at the Sinhalese Cricket Ground in Colombo starting next Wednesday.

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin, Daryl Tuffey (12th man).

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Tharanga Paranavitana, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath (12th man).

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Australia), Nigel Llong (England)

- NZPA