Vettori out for Oz Tour

[Joe Mama]

In a shattering blow to the New Zealand cricket team, Daniel Vettori has been ruled out of the test series against Australia this summer after injuring the ligaments and damaging the structure on his ankle after a tour match against the ACT.

This leaves the kiwis with only one world class bowler (Chris Cairns) who has only returned from injury himself, and few options.

But, don't write off the kiwis just yet, they always grow 10 feet tall when they play us, and this could provide the opputunity for a young spinner to be brought into the team in place of Daniel Vettori.

I hope that's the case for the sake of the series.

[GoEagles]

The Kiwi's chances of causing an upset have really done down the drain with the loss of Vettori's injury. The local press said that he is still a chance of returning for the 3rd test in Perth, although the WACA wicket is never spin friendly.

[Player]

Latest word on Vettori is that he expects to recover from his ankle injury far earlier than first forecasted. He is already said to be "walking fully" but lacks the strength and flexibility in the right ankle he needs to bowl.

He certainly will not play in the first test, but initial talk of returning for the third test may not be pie in the sky. Although personally it is hard to see how someone who has not played first class cricket for 13 months can possibly be anything like match fit.

With Cairns and Nash also returning from serious injury, I hope the New Zealand selectors are at least thinking about the younger generation of Tuffey and Martin. But if these early tour games are anything to go by, then whoever they choose will be spending a lot of time in the field.

[Joe Mama]

I'ts a shame that Vettori isn't playing, he's developed into a handy off-spinner who tosses it up and gets good turn and bounce of any wicket, and he's also a good tailend batsman as well.

But, having him out and Chris Cairns and Deon Nash recovering from injury shows the lack of depth that the kiwis have in thier bowling, but they've got Fleming, Astle and McMillan who are good bats so you never know.

[Player]

I do not think this test series is going to be the mere formality that many believe, and if the Kiwi's hold their catches may come out with some respectability.

Tuffey and Martin are quick enough to challenge international quality batsmen, and tend to bowl much better in the tests than in the warn-up games. O'Connor is hopeless and if he plays will either milked or punished by the Australians, depending on how much respect they have for the rest of the attack.

Cairns is a match winner, capable of winning a test on his own with either the bat or the ball and has done so increasingly often in recent years.

Nash will play because of his "hard man/hard yards" attitude that is seen as necessary to compete against the Australians, despite that he must have lost two yards of pace with his chronic back injuries.

It is with the spin bowling that the Kiwi's literally have nothing of even first class quality without Vettori, so expect to see a lot of medium pace line-and-length bowling by the part timers Astle and McMillan.

I can not see how the balance of the side can be fixed, especially as the fringe bowlers are all very-very-very poor with the bat and ordinary in the field.

New Zealand batsmen have always struggled against any type and any quality of spin attack and this will probably continue.

You give to much emphasis to the inconsistent Flemming, Astle and McMillian and I think respectable totals will need a large contribution from the compact Richardson (limited shot making ability) and Bell (can get stuck and intimidated by aggressive bowling).

It certainly will not be the test series of the century, but they might sneak a test win if they win a good toss etc. and we have all seen stranger things happen.

[GoEagles]

Last news I've heard was Vettori might now be ready to play in the 2nd test in Hobart. Fingers crossed for the series sake, that he'll be ready to play.