Cricket: Vettori likely to open for Northern Districts

Daniel Vettori

Daniel Vettori was hardly a roaring success when opening the batting in two one-day matches for Northern Districts last summer, but he is likely to be back at the top of the order for today's match against Auckland in Taupo.

Vettori, one of a number of New Zealand players released back to their provincial sides for the second round of State Shield matches, is a better batsman than his scores of 12 and 0 last season might suggest, and will be a real threat to the Auckland attack.

Northern go into the match at full strength, with Vettori joined by current or former internationals Llorne Howell, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Matthew Hart, Daryl Tuffey and Ian Butler.

Auckland, on the other hand, have not picked up any players from the national side, with Kyle Mills bypassing the match and heading to Queenstown to prepare for Sunday's one-day international.

Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell has firm ideas on where his side must improve if they are to have a chance at Owen Delany Park.

"We must bat better than we did against CD in Palmerston North, and it would help if we won the toss," he said yesterday.

"At 90 for 6 we were never going to set a competitive total."

O'Donnell welcomed the inclusion of the New Zealand players in the Northern side.

"We are keen to have a go at players like Tuffey and Butler. Our only concern is the weather. We won't know who will play until we know how many overs we are going to get in."

Under the rules this season, matches can be played with a minimum 20 overs a side.

Otago, playing Wellington in Alexandra, have the same 12 players who lost to Canterbury.

Asked where he would be looking to improve, Otago coach Glenn Turner said simply: "Running between the wickets. We lost five players to run-outs. Worse, we didn't even test the field.

"I thought we batted and bowled well but we let ourselves down elsewhere."

Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming has been included in the Wellington side.

Central Districts have internationals Mathew Sinclair and Jacob Oram back to strengthen their side for their match against Canterbury at Nelson, with Geoff Barnett and Duncan Cederman missing out.

Canterbury have Nathan Astle to bolster their ranks, with Brendon Donkers also being included for the first time.