Cricket: Light goes out on Black Caps' opening US match

One of the Black Caps' three Twenty20 cricket matches against Sri Lanka in the United States scheduled for next week has been cancelled because of lighting concerns at the venue.

The new Pearl cup series in Florida involves matches between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, and between the United States and Jamaica.

The Black Caps' first match was due to be held under lights at the Broward County Regional Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Thursday, but the International Cricket Council ruled the lights were below the standard required for the broadcast and hosting of international cricket.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive Justin Vaughan said thunderstorms and rain were also forecast, which added weight to the decision to cancel.

That means the matches between all four teams will be played over the weekend, with one of the United States v Jamaica matches being a full one-dayer.

Mr Vaughan said the Black Caps were excited at the prospect of launching international cricket in the United States, and doing it against a closely-matched side such as Sri Lanka would add to the spectacle.

NZC has said it envisaged the Black Caps playing in the United States on an annual basis.

* Batsman Jesse Ryder is on his way home to New Zealand with an injured elbow as Wellington Pace bowler Andy McKay joins the squad in place of the retired Shane Bond.

Manager Dave Currie says the decision to send Ryder home was to start treatment on his elbow immediately.

"He has had trouble with his elbow for the last couple of weeks. The focus for him now is the Sri Lanka tour, so he has returned to assess the extent of the injury and to get ready for that tour."

- NZPA