Cricket: Sri Lanka still have plenty of pace despite injury

Nuwan Zoysa's dislocated finger has at least solved one dilemma for the Sri Lankan one-day selectors.

The rangy left-arm paceman has been ruled out of the opening one-dayer against New Zealand on Boxing Day, simplifying the selectors' task of finalising their pace attack.

Zoysa, who made his test debut in Dunedin seven years ago, had combined with the highly-regarded Chaminda Vaas to form Sri Lanka's new ball attack in the past six ODIs.

However, with fast-bowler Dilhara Fernando and promising young paceman Farveez Maharoof also regulars in the ODI side, the Sri Lankans had been facing some tricky decisions over their final 11.

Sri Lankan manager Brendon Kurupu confirmed yesterday that Zoysa (who injured the finger in Tuesday's tour match against Central Districts in New Plymouth) would be out of action for a week.

That means he will miss the series opener at Eden Park on Sunday, and could also be in doubt for the second match at Napier's McLean Park on Wednesday.

Under normal circumstances the loss of such an established strike bowler would be expected to damage Sri Lanka's chances, but this summer's tourist are unusually strong in the pace department and should still be well served.

Vaas will remain the lynch-pin of their attack, Fernando and Maharoof appear likely to be included, and Sri Lanka will still be able to call on plenty of slow bowling options in Upal Chandana, Sanath Jayasuriya and Russell Arnold.

For all that, the Sri Lankans' biggest concern today is for the weather to clear enough to allow a decent contest against Northern Districts in Hamilton - their final opportunity before the opening ODI.

With the New Zealand players assembling in Auckland last night, Northern will be without Daniel Vettori, Scott Styris, Ian Butler, Hamish Marshall and Daryl Tuffey, and will field five players with no State Shield experience.

Westpac Park turf manager Karl Johnson reckoned the pitch would be in good shape for the day-nighter, telling NZPA that the writing had been on the wall as far as the recent weather was concerned.

"The pitch is ready to go," he said. "We knew the forecast was looking dodgy four or five days ago so we got our preparation finalised so if we got rain we were ready."

The squads

Northern Districts: James Marshall (c), B J Watling, Llorne Howell, Mark Orchard, Matt Hart, Joseph Yovich, Ryan Shutte, Daniel Flynn, Peter McGlashan, Graeme Aldridge, Te Ahu Davis, Jaden Hatwell, Bruce Martin (two to be omitted).

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (c), Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Saman Jayantha, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara, Farveez Maharoof (three to be omitted).