Sri Lanka and New Zealand have shared a disrupted build-up to today's first one-day international at McLean Park.
The New Zealanders' practice was dominated yesterday by the temporary absence of Nathan Astle, the injury clouds hovering over pacemen Mark Gillespie and Michael Mason, and the form of back-up
bowler Iain O'Brien.
Astle eventually returned from his x-ray check with positive news, but Mason chose to rest his aching hamstrings at the team hotel and Gillespie, who was forced out of the Boxing Day Twenty20 match with a knee complaint, bowled only a brief spell.
The injuries have prompted a suggestion that New Zealand might opt to rest both Gillespie and Mason to be on the safe side, and choose to play O'Brien and Wellington off-spinner Jeetan Patel in their place.
Team manager Lindsay Crocker said the injury to Gillespie - which looked the worse of three - was less serious than it appeared, and that the right-arm quickie would've even been able to return to the bowling crease on Monday, if required.
Sri Lanka had no problems with injury yesterday, but were forced to practice with borrowed equipment after several of their gear bags failed to turn up in Napier, apparently because they were left in Auckland.
The tourists have only a limited build-up to the World Cup, playing just four more games in India after this series, and are understandably keen to make the most of their opportunities over the next fortnight.
Coach Tom Moody said the New Zealand leg was another step towards the World Cup, and suggested that he too, would be considering all options.
