Vettori rested for first Test

Kyle Mills might get an opportunity to add to his only Test wicket when the Test against Sri Lanka starts on Monday © Getty Images

Daniel Vettori has been rested for New Zealand's first Test against Sri Lanka, which starts at Napier on April 4. He has been replaced by Kyle Mills in the 12-man squad.

Vettori had complained of a sore back after taking a heavy workload during the Test series against Australia, and the selectors hoped that and extra week's rest would help Vettori get back to peak fitness in time for the second Test which starts on April 11 at Wellington. Mills has played just two Tests so far, against England at Nottingham in 2004 and against Australia at Brisbane earlier this season, and his stats do not look impressive - his only wicket has cost him 130 runs.

New Zealand have been struggling with injuries almost throughout this season. Scott Styris is recovering from knee surgery while Jacob Oram and Ian Butler are battling back from long-standing back problems. Chris Harris underwent shoulder surgery after injuring himself in the VB Series in February, Daryl Tuffey has a bicep strain and Michael Papps has undergone an operation on his finger.

Squad
Craig Cumming, James Marshall, Stephen Fleming (capt), Hamish Marshall, Nathan Astle, Lou Vincent, Brendon McCullum, Iain O'Brien, Kyle Mills, Paul Wiseman, James Franklin, Chris Martin.