Nathan Astle has been recalled to New Zealand's squad for the one-day series against Sri Lanka after captain Stephen Fleming withdrew from Saturday's opener to be present at the birth of his first child.
Vice-captain Daniel Vettori will now lead the side.
"We wish Stephen and [his wife] Kelly all the best and look forward to Stephen's return later in the series," New Zealand team manager Lindsay Crocker said in a statement.
Vettori captained the side during the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series against Australia earlier this month when Fleming missed two contests after having a benign tumour removed from his face.
Although he is one of New Zealand's most successful one-day batsmen, Astle was originally dropped ahead of the four-match Sri Lanka series in order to rediscover his form in domestic cricket.
The first match is in Queenstown on Saturday, with the following matches in Christchurch on January 3, Wellington on January 6 and Napier two days later.
