WELLINGTON, March 31: New Zealand announced on Thursday that it would rest in-form bowler Daniel Vettori for the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka next week as the Black Caps struggle to recover from their mauling by Australia.

Swing bowler Kyle Mills was brought into the squad for Vettori, who suffered lower back pain during the third Test loss to Australia in Auckland this week.

It was the only change to the New Zealand squad for the Sri Lanka Test beginning Monday in Napier.

Vettori was New Zealand’s main strike bowler as the Black Caps suffered a 5-0 one-day series loss against Australia and then dropped the Test series 2-0.

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