91Èȱ¬

England have added fast bowler Jade Dernbach to their squad for the three-match one-day series against New Zealand, starting at Lord's on Friday.

The 27-year-old comes in as cover for Tim Bresnan, whose wife is due to give birth during the series.

Bresnan has not played for England since January's one-day series in India, after which he underwent an elbow operation.

New Zealand's Trent Boult will miss the series with a torn side muscle.

He has been replaced by Ian Butler, but any potential change to New Zealand's squad for the Champions Trophy, which begins in Cardiff on 6 June, will have to be ratified by the International Cricket Council's technical committee.

Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, who has been struggling with an Achilles injury, could play his first international since a World Twenty20 match against England in Sri Lanka last September.

"It's nice to be back with the team, and to play some cricket, I hope. It's been a while," said the former captain, who has taken 282 wickets in 272 ODIs at 31.48.

New Zealand brought over Vettori ahead of schedule before the second Test at Headingley after Bruce Martin suffered a tour-ending calf injury.

But in the end they decided against playing Vettori because of concerns his body would not stand up to a lengthy bowling stint.

Bresnan has returned to action for Yorkshire since his operation, but England will want to see him in international action before their first Champions Trophy match against Australia on 8 June at Edgbaston.

Dernbach is not part of the Champions Trophy squad and may not play in the three one-day internationals even if Bresnan is unavailable, with Chris Woakes, Ravi Bopara and James Tredwell all bidding to make an impact.

England seem likely to continue with the tried-and-tested policy of four frontline seamers and a spinner which has worked so well in home conditions.

"I think we're pretty clear on our strategy," said captain Alastair Cook, who also admitted that injury "niggles" were a minor concern following the 2-0 Test series victory.

"Over the last few years in our one-day cricket in England, we've been on a good run, won quite a lot of series and matches - so we're quite clear in our minds.

"There are a couple of niggles. It's always the way with such a quick turnaround from a Test match."

Meanwhile, the opening Champions Trophy warm-up match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of bad weather at Edgbaston.

England from: Alastair Cook (capt), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wkt), Steven Finn, Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, Chris Woakes, Jade Dernbach.

New Zealand from: Brendon McCullum (capt/wkt), Ian Butler, Grant Elliott, Andrew Ellis, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi (wkt), Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori, Kane Williamson.

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pkn) and Richard Illingworth (Eng)

TV umpire: Steve Davis (Aus)

Match referee: David Boon (Aus)