Leeds: Spinner and former skipper Daniel Vettori ruled himself out of the second Test at Headingley, ensuring New Zealand will take on England with an all-pace attack from Friday. Vettori's decision to put the team first rather than play a 112th Test and become the sole New Zealand record-holder for caps, means fast bowler Doug Bracewell will complement a seam attack with Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner.
"It's a gamble but when you're 1-0 down you've got to take it," captain Brendon McCullum said on Thursday. He will keep wicket for the first time in nearly three years, taking over from the injured BJ Watling. McCullum stressed it was a one-off situation, and hoped to manage the back complaint which forced him to drop the gloves in 2010.
With Martin Guptill taking Watling's place in the lineup, the usual opener will bat at No. 6, followed by McCullum. New Zealand hoped that when Vettori joined them on Tuesday for the coming one-day series that he could replace the injured Bruce Martin. But Vettori's practices came up short. He hasn't played a Test since July, missing the tour of South Africa with an Achilles' complaint and the home series against England with ankle tendinitis. Lately, he was a mere net bowler in the Indian Premier League.
"He didn't scrub up that well today," McCullum said. "He gave it his best shot. He's not quite confident he'll be able to get through five days and didn't want
08:35 AM, May 24, 2013
Leeds: New Zealand's Neil Wagner said on Wednesday he wanted to make England batsmen "hate him" and "get in their face" as the Black Caps look to square the Test series with victory at Headingley. England won the first Test of this two-match campaign with a commanding 170-run success, achieved with more than a day to spare, at Lord's last week after skittling New Zealand out for a mere 68...
01:08 PM, May 23, 2013
London: Neil Wagner staked his claim for a place in New Zealand's Test side against England next week with a five-wicket return as the tourists beat Derbyshire by 107 runs on the third and final day of their opening warm-up match at Derby on Monday. The 27-year-old left-arm seamer, who troubled England's batsmen during the recent drawn series in New Zealand, took five for 45 in 18 overs. However, the...
09:04 AM, May 07, 2013
Derby: New Zealand made a promising start to their tour of England as Dean Brownlie and BJ Watling scored half-centuries in their opening match against Derbyshire on Saturday. The tourists are warming up for their Test series against England, which starts at Lord's on May 16, and they recovered from a sloppy start to get a useful knock against their county championship opponents. Both Hamish Rutherford and Peter Fulton went...
11:50 PM, May 04, 2013
Doug Bracewell failed to reclaim his spot in the 13-man squad after missing the first Test when he cut his foot while cleaning up after a house party. ...
08:54 AM, Mar 11, 2013
Neil Wagner and Bruce Martin proved able standbys as the backup duo made the most of their surprise inclusion to take four wickets each and help New Zealand bowl England out for 167. ...
02:27 PM, Mar 07, 2013
Debutant Hamish Rutherford was 77 not out, while Peter Fulton was on 46 to put New Zealand in a strong position after the first day of the first Test was washed out due to rain. ...
02:16 PM, Mar 07, 2013
New Zealand's openers reached 131 for 0...
11:38 AM, Mar 07, 2013
Neil Wagner has been rewarded with a place in New Zealand's squad for the first Test against England after taking six wickets in the ongoing tour match. ...
09:10 AM, Mar 02, 2013
West Indies reached 135 for 4 at the end of the 3rd day chasing the target of 206 runs in the fourth innings to win the second Test and seal the series 2-0. ...
11:42 PM, Aug 04, 2012
Kemar Roach took 60 for 5 and Chris Gayle hit 64 not out to lead West Indies to a nine-wicket victory over New Zealand. ...
10:01 PM, Jul 29, 2012
