Cricket: Vettori ready to do the job in a do-or-die challenge

By RICHARD BOOCK in Port Elizabeth

Daniel Vettori could probably think of more favourable circumstances under which to make his World Cup debut.

The star left-arm spinner was a surprise omission from the side to play Sri Lanka on Monday, but will almost certainly be included for tonight's showdown against the West Indies.

It will be a long overdue World Cup appearance.

Vettori, surplus to requirements for the entire 1999 campaign, will enter the fray with New Zealand clinging to life by their fingernails and effectively needing to win all their remaining group matches to qualify for the second round.

To make things interesting, they head to St George's Park tonight with the memory of one of their more clueless performances fresh in their mind, and knowing that the West Indies will be almost bullet-proof after their opening-night heroics at Newlands.



Vettori, who will be playing his 100th one-day international, will be pitting his skills against one of the most dangerous batting line-ups around, with the extra complication of having four left-handers in the top order.

"I'm champing at the bit to get out there," he said yesterday.

"It was bad enough sitting out the 1999 tournament, but then I missed out at Bloemfontein as well.

'It seems that every time a World Cup rolls round I end up in the background.

"I was surprised and disappointed about not fronting up against Sri Lanka. It hurts to be dropped, especially when you think you can do a job. I mean, Scotty Styris was even turning his slower ball ... "

Vettori is in no doubt about the threat of the West Indian side, and said it would be a mistake to think that their success revolved solely around Brian Lara, whose opening-night century paved the way for a huge upset over the hosts.

As well as Lara, the West Indian batting line-up contains Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the explosive Ricardo Powell, and undoubtedly the most influential member of the side - skipper Carl Hooper.

It was Hooper who made sure Lara's contribution would be a match-winning one last weekend, playing a supportive role with the bat, taking a couple of important wickets and producing an outstanding performance in the field.

Vettori said Hooper caused him problems in the West Indies last year, when the Kiwi spinner played four games and took one for 127 - at an economy rate of 6.35.

"I've had mixed experiences against the West Indies," he said.

"I went quite well at home, but struggled last year on their grounds, mainly because of Carl Hooper and the way he went about playing my style of bowling.

"Everyone knows he's one of the better players of spin bowling in the world.

"He approaches his innings intelligently, just ticking the score over until the end, and then he can really swing into action."

As for tackling four top-class left-handers, Vettori said he did not subscribe to the theory that bowlers who moved the ball away from the bat were always the most effective.

"I find it easier to contain the lefties, because I'm turning the ball back into them. It might reduce my ability to take wickets, but it's useful in terms of economy and building the pressure on the batsmen."

Whatever changes have been made to the West Indies side over the past couple of years, the most significant has been the balance of their one-day combination, which now comprises seven batsmen, wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs and three fast bowlers.

Hamstrung by a lack of all-rounders when they last visited New Zealand in 2000-01, the West Indies are now chock full of utility players and are unlikely to make many changes when they square off against New Zealand this evening.

"This is the make-up we've been using for the past six to eight months and it's been working for us - three front-line bowlers and Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Ricardo Powell, Wavell Hinds and myself doing the rest," Hooper said.

"If, for argument's sake, we see the pitch is a green seamer, we would probably contemplate playing the extra bowler, but, all things being equal, that is the way we will go."

If there are any changes to the side who toppled the Proteas, they could involve left-arm opener Pedro Collins, who not only proved expensive at the bowling crease, but was charged with being reckless after standing on the boundary rope while trying to catch Lance Klusener.

New Zealand (from): Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Scott Styris, Chris Cairns, Lou Vincent, Brendon McCullum, Chris Harris, Jacob Oram, Andre Adams, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey, Shane Bond, Kyle Mills, Mathew Sinclair.

West Indies (from): Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Carl Hooper, Ricardo Powell, Ridley Jacobs, Marlon Samuels, Vasbert Drakes, Merv Dillon, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Nixon McLean, Jermaine Lawson.

* Television cover starts at 8.30pm on Sky channels 10 and 12.

HOW THEY'VE FARED

Recent ODI matches between New Zealand and the West Indies:

June 16, 2002, Kingston: West Indies won by 4 wickets.

June 12, 2002, Port of Spain: New Zealand won by 9 runs.

June 9, 2002, St Lucia: West Indies won by 7 wickets.

June 8, 2002, St Lucia: West Indies won by 6 wickets.

June 5, 2002, Kingston: no result.

Jan 11, 2000, Christchurch: New Zealand won by 20 runs.

Jan 8, 2000, Wellington: New Zealand won by 8 wickets.

Jan 6, 2000, Napier: New Zealand won by 4 wickets.

Jan 4, 2000, Taupo: New Zealand won by 7 wickets.

Jan 2, 2000, Auckland: New Zealand won by 3 wickets.

West Indies: 3 wins. New Zealand: 6 wins. No result: 1.

Total matches: 35.

West Indies, 22 wins, New Zealand 10 wins.

World Cup schedule

Points table