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
London: With nearly two days to beat England in the first Test at Lord's, New Zealand looked like they might not last two hours after reaching lunch at 29-6 on the fourth day. Tasked with defending 238 to prevent their first loss to the Kiwis in 14 years, England were set to win big and with more than a day to spare. Stuart Broad caused most of the carnage, snaring...
07:22 PM, May 19, 2013
London: After two days of being oppressed by New Zealand, England broke the stranglehold in impressive style to take charge halfway through the first Test at Lord's on Saturday. First, New Zealand was dismissed for 207 to give England a first-innings lead of 25, a significant amount on a tricky, soft pitch. That lead was then boosted from 25 to 205, as Joe Root and Jonathan Trott found runs easy...
11:36 PM, May 18, 2013
Matt Prior made a brilliant 110 not out to save the tourists' blushes in the final game of the series. ...
02:07 AM, Mar 26, 2013
England lost three wickets after New Zealand declared their innings at 241 for 6, setting England a victory target of 481. ...
02:39 AM, Mar 25, 2013
New Zealand took their lead to 274 at stumps on day three after a poor start to their second innings in Auckland. ...
02:59 AM, Mar 24, 2013
Cook scored his 24th Test century and Compton his first in a partnership which steered England towards parity with New Zealand on day four. ...
11:14 AM, Mar 09, 2013
An unbeaten 121-run stand between Jonathan Trott and Joe Root took England home after James Anderson had picked up a five-for. ...
02:24 PM, Feb 20, 2013
Jonathan Trott and Joe Root scored fifties as they took England home with 14 balls to spare. ...
06:31 AM, Feb 20, 2013
The best batting pitch on offer in New Zealand at McLean Park will be an advantage for England. ...
03:23 PM, Feb 19, 2013
Rutherford and Southee are the replacements for injured duo of Martin Guptill and Mitchell McClenaghan. ...
09:44 AM, Feb 18, 2013
Southee suffered the injury while diving in the field during a domestic match. ...
03:35 PM, Dec 20, 2012
Mathews's defiant knock ended at 84 as New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 167 runs to level the series. The hosts won the first Test by ten wickets. ...
10:08 AM, Nov 29, 2012
New Zealand's new-ball pair took out Sri Lanka's top four wickets inside 14 overs to give the visitors a big chance of leveling the series on day five. ...
10:16 AM, Nov 28, 2012
