Already dealing with the absence of regular skipper Kane Williamson, New Zealand will play the World Cup-opener against England on Thursday without key pacer Tim Southee, who is yet to recover from his thumb surgery.
Stand-in captain Tom Latham said Southee is making good progress after undergoing surgery last month to treat his fractured right thumb.
Southee had suffered the injury while attempting a catch offered by Joe Root at the Lord's in a recent series which they lost 1-3.