September 04, 2007	Tuesday	Sha'aban 21, 1428

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 3: Australia are everyone’s favourites to add the World Twenty20 Championship to their bulging trophy cabinet when the inaugural event begins next week, New Zealand skipper Daniel Vetorri said on Monday.

Vettori, who took over from Stephen Fleming as captain of the Black Caps’ one-day side after the 50 over World Cup in the Caribbean, said New Zealand were part of a chasing pack but admitted the Australians were a class apart.

“Australia are always the team that come out on top of any predictions,” Vettori told reporters.

“I would say they are the favourites and then you can throw a blanket around the rest of the Test teams and everyone’s got a good chance.”

Vettori has only ever played one Twenty20 match but he said he would be able to lean on team-mates who had more experience of the format from playing in English county cricket. “We’ve got guys in the team who have played a number of games and got the feel of it.”

Fleming’s absence should be an opportunity for big-hitters like Lou Vincent and Brendon McCullum to be the mainstay of the middle order, said Vettori who denied that spinners should necessarily fear for their figures.

New Zealand, who are also grouped with Sri Lanka, begin their campaign against Kenya in Durban on Sept 12.—AFP