Sri Lanka have won the toss and chosen to bowl first in the World Cup opening match against New Zealand in drizzly Christchurch.

Captain Angelo Mathews said his decision was helped by overcast conditions at Hagley Oval. New Zealand counterpart Brendon McCullum said he would have made the same decision.

The Black Caps have made one change from the team who beat Pakistan in their most recent official one-day international in Napier on February 3, with allrounder Corey Anderson restored in place of spinner Nathan McCullum.

It means Adam Milne wins the contentious third seamer spot ahead of Kyle Mills and Mitchell McClenaghan.

The other omitted Black Caps squad member is Tom Latham.

Sri Lanka have named two spinners, with legspinner Jeevan Mendis to start alongside first-choice tweaker Rangana Herath.

Veteran pace bowler Lasith Malinga returns from injury after missing last month’s seven-match one-day international series in New Zealand.

Conditions are heavily overcast, chilled by a cold breeze, and light drizzle was threatening to delay the start.

Rain isn’t forecast to be a major concern on Saturday.

The game is the first of 49 scheduled for the six-week tournament involving 14 nations.

It finishes with a final at Melbourne on March 29.

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (capt), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi, Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult.

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dimuth Karunaratne, Jeevan Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekera, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara.

Umpires: Marais Erasmus (South Africa), Nigel Llong (England)

Television umpire: Sundaram Ravi (India)

Match referee: David Boon (Australia)