Cricket: Confidence growing for injured trio

Coach Mike Hesson is hopeful Brendon McCullum will be able to play in Nelson. Photo / Getty

New Zealand are optimistic they will have their three injured players available for their third ODI against Sri Lanka in Nelson on Thursday.

Captain Brendon McCullum, who damaged his back early in the Sri Lankan innings in today's whopping 10-wicket win at Hagley Oval, will be monitored in the leadup to Thursday.

''It's one of those injuries that are generally 24 to 48 hours," coach Mike Hesson said.
''He'll be coming to Nelson with us. We will have cover with us but we are hopeful he will be able to take part in Nelson."

McCullum had a stiff back before the game began, and Hesson described it as ''a disc issue".

Fast bowler Adam Milne sat today's game with a sore heel, the same one which cut short his World Cup last March. It is more of a precautionary stand down but there's confidence it is a short term issue.

Top batsman Kane Williamson has yet to appear in the series as he rests a niggling right knee injury.

However it's expected he will be in line to return for the first of two games at Saxton Oval.

If the crowd at Hagley Oval were disappointed at not seeing McCullum at the crease, Martin Guptill made up for it with his stellar unbeaten 93 off just 30 balls.

''I probably would have played the same way if he was out there with me," the in-form Guptill said.

''He'd have probably got more runs than I did. We just wanted to go out and create a strike rate. Tommy (Latham) played a great hand as well, he was giving the ones while I was going. We worked pretty well as a partnership."

Guptill's innings took him to 1459 ODI runs in this calendar year, 142 ahead of second-placed compatriot Kane Williamson. Another 41 at Nelson on Thursday will have him at 1500 for the year.