Fleming returns for fourth one-dayer

Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, will return to the side for the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka at Auckland on Saturday. Fleming sat out the first three games as per New Zealand's rotation policy ahead of the World Cup in March and the side was instead led by Daniel Vettori, the left-arm spinner.

While Nathan Astle, who opened for New Zealand in the absence of Fleming, will sit out of the fourth game, Jeetan Patel, released from the squad to play for Wellington, was recalled. Craig McMillan, who wasn't part of the third one-day squad, replaced James Marshall.

"With the continued use of Brendon McCullum at the top of the order, it is now necessary to introduce a player who can provide a powerful finish to the innings and we are looking to Craig to provide that," said John Bracewell, the New Zealand coach. He added that though Marshall was unlucky to miss out the game, the management wanted him to put pressure on those who had been selected.

New Zealand lead the five-match series 2-1 after they won the low-scoring third game played through rain interruption.

Squad
Brendon McCullum, Stephen Fleming (capt), Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton, Hamish Marshall, Craig McMillan, Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Andre Adams, Mark Gillespie, Shane Bond, Michael Mason, Jeetan Patel