Cricket: NZ win toss and bowl first

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and chose to bowl first in the first match of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day international cricket series against Australia at Eden Park today.

New Zealand today omitted pace bowler Shane Bond from their team after he suffered a hamstring strain at training yesterday.

Chris Martin took Bond's place in the squad but has also been left out, while James Marshall has been named super sub.

Australia elected to leave out uncapped pace bowler Mick Lewis from their touring 13-man squad.

Batsman Brad Hodge will make his debut while spin bowling all rounder Cameron White is the super sub.

The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy is held by neither team after the inaugural series last year was drawn 1-1.

TEAMS:

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Nathan Astle, Lou Vincent, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, James Franklin. Supersub: James Marshall.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Simon Katich, Brad Hodge, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken. Super sub: Cameron White.

Umpires: Tony Hill (New Zealand), Aleem Dar (Pakistan).

- NZPA