Cricket: Fleming to miss one-dayer

Stephen Fleming

Stephen Fleming will miss the opening one-dayer against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

The Black Caps captain has flown home to Wellington for the birth of his first child.


With Andre Adams already out having broken a bone in his right hand while fielding yesterday, Fleming's absence means a reprieve for another player dropped after the series loss to Australia.

James Franklin came in for Adams and Nathan Astle has now been drafted in to the squad to face Sri Lanka.

Black Caps manager Lindsay Crocker said Daniel Vettori would captain the team and Astle would join them after playing for Canterbury tomorrow.

Crocker said Fleming would return later in the series.

The opening one-dayer of the four-match series is in Queenstown.

- NEWSTALK ZB, HERALD ONLINE STAFF, NZPA


* An earlier version of this story included information from NZPA which said Fleming's wife Kelly had given birth already. She has not.