Fleming to miss one-dayer against Sri Lanka

WELLINGTON, Thursday (AFP)

New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming has pulled out of the opening one-day match against Sri Lanka following the birth of his first child, New Zealand manager Lindsay Crocker said Thursday.

He has been replaced by out-of-form opener Nathan Astle who was originally dropped from the Sri Lanka series after a disappointing time at the crease during New Zealand's recent series against Australia.

Fleming returned to Wellington after his wife gave birth overnight, meaning he will miss at least the first one-dayer against Sri Lanka in Queenstown on Saturday. Crocker said Daniel Vettori would captain the team, Astle would join them after a provincial match on Friday and Fleming would return later in the series.