Cricket: Vettori backs Patel over Williamson

Kane Williamson is in the squad and may yet be in the starting 11. Photo / Christine Cornege

Despite the green look of the Seddon Park pitch, the Black Caps will play two spinners in the second cricket test against Australia.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has made it clear Wellington off-spinner Jeetan Patel will play, while Northern Districts teenager Kane Williamson is likely to be left out.

Patel will bat eighth in the order, in a straight replacement for injury seamer Daryl Tuffey. Vettori says he and coach Mark Greatbatch will decide later this afternoon whether Mathew Sinclair or Peter Ingram will bat at number three.

Poised to become the second New Zealander after Stephen Fleming to play 100 tests, Vettori today said offspinner Patel was likely to return despite the Seddon Park pitch having a greener than usual appearance.

"I think the greenness is probably misrepresenting the wicket. I think we've played there enough times to know that it will probably have a little bit in it early on, but it's not going to be anything too terrible," he said.

The in-form Williamson was in the squad to gain experience and they didn't want to rush him into test cricket.

"I've played here enough times to realise (the pitch) is probably going to have a bit in it early on but it's not going to be anything too terrible. It'll be a tough first session but it'll get lower and slower as the game goes on," Vettori said.

"I think we'll go in with Jeetan. We'll refine the squad down to having Kane in the mix of 12 but in the end it's looking like going in with the five bowlers and me still batting at six."

That meant an even longer tail with Patel likely to bat at eight, with Vettori suggesting Tim Southee would get a reprieve at No 9 at the expense of allrounder James Franklin despite a poor test in the 10-wicket defeat in Wellington.

"We've got to go in looking to take 20 wickets. Whilst Tim didn't perform well in the last test we'll back him in this one.

"Hopefully he can produce a performance because we want to give him confidence. We think he's a good player, he's a young guy but he needs to step up in this test match and prove to us that he's good enough.

"I can worry about it (the long tail) or say the top seven need to do their jobs. That's the way I prefer to look at it; the group of us need to step up and get the majority of the runs. We've been fortunate with Daryl Tuffey (broken hand) how well he's played but this top seven needs to do the job."

Vettori said he and selector/coach Mark Greatbatch had not yet decided who would bat at No 3 between Mathew Sinclair and Peter Ingram, and would discuss it later today.

On the evidence at training, it appeared Sinclair would get the nod for his first test in two years.

Likely New Zealand team:

Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim McIntosh, BJ Watling, Mathew Sinclair, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee, Brent Arnel, Chris Martin.

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB