Vettori and Mills to miss last group game against Sri Lanka

Mumbai: New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori and opening bowler Kyle Mills will miss the match against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium tomorrow.

"Vettori and Mills are not ready for the Friday match and will probably be ready only for the quarter-finals," remarked Ross Taylor after a training session at the Wankhede stadium.

The decision has been taken after the players had a meeting with physiotherapist Dayle Shackel. Meanwhile, New Zealand team selector Mark Greatbatch has said that they are flying in Auckland pacer Daryl Tuffey as a cover for Mills in case he does not get ready in time for the quarterfinals. This could give Tuffey enough time to get acquainted to the conditions in case Mills fails to recover.

Tuffey is currently playing for Auckland against Northern Districts in New Zealand's domestic tournament Plunket Shield and will arrive in Mumbai on Friday.

Mills has suffered a quadriceps injury while playing against Canada on Sunday.

"It is disappointing news, but then it can give an opportunity for one of the players to step in and perform their role," added Taylor, who believes that a victory over Sri Lanka can give them the momentum.

"Sri Lanka is a very good side. To beat a sub-continent team will be really good, especially before the quarter-finals. It is really nice that we are playing in a neutral venue against them," said Taylor, who is in brilliant form.

"The advantage that we have over Sri Lanka is that if they played this match in their country they would have received a lot of home crowd support. However the wicket is likely to be the same for them," he said.

When asked how it feels after one month into the World Cup, Taylor said: "I am sweating a lot more and it is getting a bit hotter. The wickets are also getting dry."