New Zealand axed veterans Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan from the team for the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka over the New Year.

The pair have struggled for form in recent series and have been replaced by the uncapped James How, who captains the Central Districts first-class side, and Peter Fulton from Canterbury.

"Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan have not been selected due to recent form," coach John Bracewell said on Friday. "We felt they should return to domestic cricket to work on their batting before being re-considered for selection."

Astle is arguably New Zealand's best one-day batsman. He is the country's second-highest run scorer with 6456 runs at an a average of 34.52 in 204 matches. He has also scored 15 centuries and 37 half-centuries.

The aggressive McMillan is the sixth-highest run scorer with 4148 runs at an average of 27.47 in 175 matches.

Hamish Marshall, who has also had a poor run of form, was retained because Bracewell said selectors believed he would turn it around.

Stephen Fleming returns to captain the side after missing two matches against Australia after having a benign tumour removed from his jaw. He has been cleared to play despite chipping a bone in his finger on Wednesday.

Fast bowler Shane Bond, who missed the series against Australia because of a hamstring injury, also returns.

James Marshall, James Franklin and Chris Martin had been replaced by Fleming, Andre Adams and Bond.

Bracewell said How and Fulton, who has played the solitary one-day international, had been selected on the back of consistent form in domestic cricket and the New Zealand A team.

"Looking towards the World Cup, if we are going to create competition for World Cup places now is the appropriate time," Bracewell said.

"We were also conscious of the need to retain continuity within the squad and not to make wholesale changes."

The series against Sri Lanka is a continuation of last year's abandoned five-match series, when the Sri Lankans returned home after the Boxing Day Tsunami. New Zealand had taken a 1-0 lead in the series.

The first match of the remaining four games is in Queenstown on Dec. 31, with the second in Christchurch on Jan. 3. The final matches will be in Wellington on Jan. 6 and Napier on Jan. 8.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Daniel Vettori (vice captain), Andre Adams, Shane Bond, Chris Cairns, Peter Fulton, Jamie How, Hamish Marshall, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent.