Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and chose to bat in the first ODI against New Zealand, in Dambulla, saying he expected the surface to become worse for batting as the match wore on. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said he did not mind bowling first, with there being the possibility that rain and a wet outfield later, which may impede bowlers operating in the evening.

New Zealand have three debutants in their XI. Opening batter Tim Robinson and wicketkeeper-batter Mitchell Hay get their ODI caps, having played the T20Is over the weekend. For Nathan Smith  the 26-year-old seam-bowling allrounder, it’s his first international in any format.

Adam Milne, who has replaced the injured Lockie Ferguson in the squad, having arrived in the country only on Tuesday night, was not available for selection. Jacob Duffy will be the other frontline seamer, with Ish Sodhi, Santner, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips offering the spin options on a track expected to take turn.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have brought back left-arm quick Dilshan Madushanka  They have also been hit by an injury, with Wanidu Hasaranga ruled out. Jeffrey Vandersay replaced him in the XI. There are plenty of bowling options from among the top seven, with Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage all capable of putting in a few overs.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando,  Kusal Mendis (wk),  Sadeera Samarawickrama,  Charith Asalanka (capt),  Kamindu Mendis,  Janith Liyanage,  Maheesh Theekshana,  Jeffrey Vandersay,  Dilshan Madushanka,  Asitha Fernando

New Zealand:  Tim Robinson,  Will Young,  Henry Nicholls,  Mark Chapman,  Glenn Phillips,  Mitchell Hay (wk),  Michael Bracewell,  Mitchell Santner (capt),  Nathan Smith,  Ish Sodhi,  Jacob Duffy

[Cricinfo]

Rex Clementine at Dambulla

Sri Lanka’s preparations for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand have been dealt a blow as key leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out with a hamstring strain. Hasaranga’s absence leaves a significant gap in Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, as his wicket-taking ability has been instrumental in Sri Lanka’s recent success. In his place, Dushan Hemantha has been drafted into the squad, while Jeffrey Vandersay is expected to play in today’s first ODI here in Dambulla.

“It’s a setback, of course, but Jeffrey filled in for Hasaranga during our recent series against India and performed admirably. We’ve been working on building our depth, and players are rising to the challenge when called upon,” said Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka.

The stakes are high for Sri Lanka, ranked sixth in ODIs and just behind New Zealand in fifth place. A series victory would elevate Sri Lanka into the fifth spot, a target Asalanka’s team has had in sight all year.

“Our focus this year has been on climbing the rankings. We started from a lower position, so we’ve made a conscious effort to improve and rise up the ladder. We’ve been making strides in all formats, and this series is a chance to achieve a goal we’ve been working towards—securing that fifth position,” Asalanka explained.

Despite the injury setback, Asalanka remains optimistic about the team’s bench strength and believes the squad is prepared to take on New Zealand.

On the other side, New Zealand have also been hit by injury, with their star pacer Lockie Ferguson sidelined due to a calf strain. Ferguson’s absence comes as a relief to Sri Lanka’s middle order, which struggled against his fierce pace in the recent T20 series, where he claimed a hat-trick to seal a five-run victory for New Zealand in the second match. Adam Milne has been called in to replace Ferguson, though he is unlikely to be available for the series opener.

“It’s a big loss for us. Lockie brings intensity to our attack with those high-energy spells. But Adam Milne, who has similar skills, should step in soon,” New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said.

New Zealand, meanwhile, will be entering the ODI series with limited recent experience in the format, having not played an ODI this year. While this could pose a challenge for the visitors, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner expressed confidence in his side’s preparedness.

“It’s not ideal, but most of the team has been involved in domestic one-day games recently. We know Sri Lanka is a tough opponent, and they’ve proven that with their performances against the West Indies,” Santner remarked.

Santner also addressed concerns around New Zealand’s batting, which faltered in both T20 games, underscoring the importance of a strong start from the top order. “Our lower order has chipped in, but our top order needs to give us a solid foundation. The pitch here looks like it’ll turn, though there’s more grass than on the T20 surfaces,” he noted.

Sri Lanka’s captain, meanwhile, is focused on bouncing back from their recent T20 loss, where they struggled to chase a modest target of 109 runs. Asalanka vowed that his side would approach the ODI series with renewed determination.

“We were disappointed by that last game, no question. But what counts is how we respond now. We’re ready to make our mark and put in a strong performance tomorrow,” he affirmed.

Sri Lanka (From):

Charith Asalanka (Captain), Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (Wicketkeeper), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nishan Madushka, Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Mohamed Shiraz.

New Zealand (From)

: Mitchell Santner (Captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay (Wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Will Young.

Umpires:

Rod Tucker (Aus) and Ravindra Wimalasiri (SL).

Television Umpire:

Langton Rusere (SL)

Match Referee:

Graeme Labrooy (SL).