Cricket: Vettori 'doubtful' at best

Daniel Vettori. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori remains a doubtful starter for tomorrow's second Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day cricket international after he couldn't bat at training today.

Vettori, who was ruled out of New Zealand's two-wicket win in the series opener in Napier with a neck injury, admitted he was still no certainty of leading the side against Australia at Eden Park (12pm start NZT).

"I got through the fielding session well but I couldn't bat today so I'm just going to leave it until the last possible minute (tomorrow)," he said after training.

Vettori said it was "an old whiplash injury" which he'd had for about 13 years. He'd managed the injury and it hadn't kept him out a game until it flared up in Napier this week.

He hasn't bowled a ball since the Napier match.

"I haven't even tried. I went and had a bat and was a bit sore. I got through the fielding session no problem so I'm just hoping it frees up a bit tomorrow.

"After that fielding session I was very hopeful, but after batting there was a bit more perspective."

If Vettori was absent, Ross Taylor would again lead the side and offspinner Nathan McCullum would come in for allrounder Jacob Oram, who is sidelined for up to a month with a partial tear in the patella tendon in his left knee.

Meanwhile, Vettori expected more on-field aggression between the sides after the Scott Styris-Mitchell Johnson stoush which saw both fined parts of their match fees.

"Obviously everyone wants to see an aggressive game of cricket. There's a fine line between stepping over it so we're going to make sure that we try to play it in the spirit of the game without crossing that line.

"A lot of people enjoy that intensity - we've just got to make sure it doesn't go too far."

Likely New Zealand team:

Brendon McCullum, Peter Ingram, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, James Franklin, Neil Broom, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori/Nathan McCullum, Daryl Tuffey, Tim Southee, Shane Bond.

- NZPA