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New Zealand have bolstered their batting lineup and tasked Daniel Vettori with spinning them to a shock test victory against Australia as they try to farewell coach John Bracewell in style.
Vettori yesterday confirmed batsman Peter Fulton would return at No 5 for his eighth test, and his
first since January, in place of allrounder Grant Elliott in what is likely to be the only change from the side who lost the first test by 149 runs in Brisbane.
Offspinner Jeetan Patel was named in the New Zealand 12 but Vettori hinted he would miss the cut as they keep faith with pacemen Chris Martin, Iain O'Brien and Tim Southee, who bowled well at the Gabba.
Vettori was comfortable with shouldering the slow bowling workload on an Adelaide Oval pitch known as a batsman's paradise, which should at least offer him bounce and turn when the test starts today.
He observed old footmarks already on the pitch, which would assist him in bowling to Australia's left-handed batsmen.
The captain is equal seventh with England's James Anderson on the 2008 world test wicket-taking list - 42 wickets from 11 tests at an average of 25.45 - and backed himself to be a force here on a pitch he described as a complete reversal from the seamer-friendly Gabba.
"The most rewarding bit of captaincy is succeeding as a bowler as well," Vettori said.
"I was happy with the way I bowled in the second innings in Brisbane so I feel good. I bowled pretty well in Bangladesh but this is always a big step up, a test on a flat wicket against a very good batting lineup."
Four years ago at Adelaide Oval, Vettori wheeled down 73 overs and took six for 187 as Australia clinched a 2-0 series whitewash with a 213-run victory after opener Justin Langer's 215 led the hosts to an imposing first innings of 575 for eight declared.
Spin bowling is New Zealand's only noticeable advantage here, with one-test New South Wales spinner Nathan Hauritz likely to come in for Jason Krejza, whose sprained ankle placed him in serious doubt.
The spinner replacing allrounder Shane Watson will be Australia's only change from Brisbane.
Vettori said Bracewell had played down his departure, which was announced this week when Englishman Andy Moles was confirmed as his successor.
Bracewell was given the honour of presenting the New Zealand players with their test caps at last night's captain's meeting and Vettori said there would be some emotion.
"John's asked us to treat it as any other test, he doesn't want it taking away from what's going on and how important this test match is.
"At the end of the game we'll honour his six years with the side, and for me personally he's got the best out of me in all this time. He's a guy I'll look fondly back on for enhancing my career."
Whether that is enough to lift New Zealand, rated A$11 outsiders by Australian bookmakers, to a series-levelling upset is another matter.
Tour selectors Vettori, Bracewell and Brendon McCullum finally relented on the experiment of wicketkeeper McCullum batting at No 5, and he will drop two spots to accommodate Fulton.
* Second test
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Jamie How, Aaron Redmond, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Peter Fulton, Daniel Flynn, Brendon McCullum, Tim Southee, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin, Jeetan Patel (one to be omitted).
Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza or Nathan Hauritz, Stuart Clark.
Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa), Billy Doctrove (West Indies).
- NZPA