Southee is currently recovering from a “slight hammy niggle”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

New Zealand will be without pace bowler Tim Southee, batsman Ross Taylor and seamer Kyle Mills when they take on Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Christchurch on January 11.

“Ross has gone home to spend a couple of days with the family. He won’t be part of this first game,” batting coach Craig McMillan said. “Tim Southee has gone home as well for a couple of days’ rest. It’s important that we give some of the players a bit of R&R, a little rest before we get into a really hectic season.

“Tim had a slight hammy niggle before that second Test in Wellington. It’s just a little bit of time to recover, as much physically as mentally. There have been a couple of long tours thrown in as well and Tim’s played pretty much every format. Just a couple of days’ R&R and he’ll come back when we head north.

“No injury problem [for Taylor]. You’ll find most players have got niggles and have tape around certain parts of the body. It’s part of being a professional cricketer. There are very few players playing at bang on 100%. No major issues.

“He’s [Mills] still resting but he’s not far off. He’s been bowling, I think he’s coming off full runs. So I think he’ll join us as we head north and he’s looking forward to some game time.”