Injured trio likely fit for ODI in Nelson

Top batsman Kane Williamson expected back after being sidelined with knee injury

New Zealand are optimistic they will have their three injured players available for their third ODI against Sri Lanka in Nelson on Thursday. Captain Brendon McCullum, who damaged his back early in the Sri Lankan innings in yesterday’s whopping 10-wicket win at Hagley Oval, will be monitored in the leadup.

‘‘It’s one of those injuries that are generally 24 to 48 hours,’’ coach Mike Hesson said.

‘‘He’ll be coming to Nelson with us. We will have cover with us but we are hopeful he will be able to take part in Nelson.’’

McCullum had a stiff back before the game began, and Hesson described it as ‘‘ a disc issue’’.

Fast bowler Adam Milne sat out yesterday’s game with a sore heel, the same one which cut short his World Cup last March. It is more of a precautionary stand down but there is confidence it is a short-term issue.

Top batsman Kane Williamson has yet to appear in the series as he rests a niggling right knee injury.

However it’s expected he will be in line to return for the first of two games at Saxton Oval.

If the crowd at Hagley Oval were disappointed at not seeing McCullum at the crease, Martin Guptill made up for it with his stellar unbeaten 93 off just 30 balls.

‘‘I probably would have played the same way if he was out there with me,’’ the in-form Guptill said last night.

‘‘He’d have probably got more runs than I did. We just wanted to go out and create a strike rate. Tommy [Latham] played a great hand as well, he was giving the ones while I was going. We worked pretty well as a partnership.’’

Guptill’s innings took him to 1459 ODI runs in this calendar year, 142 ahead of second-placed compatriot Kane Williamson. Another 41 at Nelson on Thursday will have him at 1500 for the year.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s scintillating form has been noted across the Tasman.

‘‘New Zealand is going to be different to Australia obviously,” Australia coach Darren Lehmann said of his team’s impending tour.

‘‘We’ve got to make sure the players can play in all conditions. The wickets will probably seam a lot more.’’

Peter Siddle, last week admitted he’d watched bits and pieces of the recent Test action in New Zealand and was excited about the potential of bowling-friendly conditions.

But the veteran added he would cross the Tasman with an open mind.

‘‘You can’t really worry about it until you actually turn up at the ground and see what’s been dished up,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve been to England many times when we thought we were going to get green wickets and instead got dry, turning wickets.

‘‘We’ll worry about the series against West Indies then once we get over there we’ll start looking at that.”