Vettori makes surprise return as Pakistan eye series triumph

Published November 26, 2014
SHARJAH: Pakistan players take part in a nets session at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.—AFP
SHARJAH: Pakistan players take part in a nets session at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.—AFP

SHARJAH: Veteran left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori’s surprise comeback and who wins the toss will be the joint focus in the series-deciding third Test between Pakistan and New Zealand starting in Sharjah on Wednesday.

New Zealand have included Vettori in the XI in their bids to level the series which they trail 1-0 after losing the first Test by 248 runs in Abu Dhabi and drawing the second in Dubai.

The 35-year-old Vettori, who has 360 wickets, played the last of his 112 Tests (one Test for ICC World XI and the rest for New Zealand) in July 2012 and has since been sidelined due to a back injury.

Skipper Brendon McCullum confirmed Vettori will replace Jimmy Neesham in the side.

“Yeah, Dane will play and we are all excited about it,” said McCullum on Tuesday. “He will become the most capped Test player for New Zealand and it is a tremendous achievement over which all are proud of. We are going with three spinners.”

Vettori will overtake former captain Stephen Fleming who also played 111 Tests for New Zealand.

McCullum said Vettori will also be part of the one-day series which follows the Test.

“It is a one-off Test situation for him as he was over here preparing for the one-dayers. We think using three spinners and Dane being the third one, the workload might not be overly excessive.

“With the World Cup around we don’t want to break him in a one-off Test match situation and we think we can certainly manage,” he said.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq admitted Vettori’s inclusion showed New Zealand’s aspiration to level the series.

“I think they will do every bit to level the series,” said Misbah. “Every team aspires to win, especially when they are 1-0 down and level the series. Vettori is an experienced campaigner but we have played him before so we know how he bowls.”

Besides Vettori, the toss will also be a key factor as the team winning the toss dictated terms in the first two Tests.

Pakistan piled up 566-3 after winning the toss and then spun out New Zealand twice for a comprehensive win.

Despite the odds, New Zealand staged an impressive comeback in the second Test in Dubai, winning the toss and dictating terms before Pakistan, set a target of 261 on the final day, salvaged a draw to set up an intriguing finale.

Pakistan’s spinners — left-armer Zulfiqar Babar (13 wickets in two Tests) and leggie Yasir Shah (11) — will hold the key.

But McCullum said his team can take confidence from an improved performance in the second Test.

NEW ZEALAND spinners Daniel Vettori (R) and Ish Sodhi prepare to bowl during a practice session on Tuesday.—AFP
NEW ZEALAND spinners Daniel Vettori (R) and Ish Sodhi prepare to bowl during a practice session on Tuesday.—AFP

“We would have loved to have won the second Test,” said McCullum. “But you have to look at what we have done in Dubai, bank on the confidence and head to Sharjah knowing that we have an opportunity to win away from home if we play up a little bit up.”

Pakistan will bring in opener Mohammad Hafeez who missed the second Test due to a hamstring injury.

His bowling action was reported as suspect after the first Test but he can bowl in Sharjah, pending a report of a bio-mechanical analysis performed in England on Monday.

He returned to Sharjah early on Tuesday and will replace Taufiq Umar while paceman Mohammad Talha is likely to come in for Ehsan Adil who suffered a side strain.

Misbah wants Pakistan to improve their fielding in Sharjah after dropping a number of catches in Dubai.

“I am pretty pleased with the bowling and batting,” said the Pakistan captain. “In the field we need to take our chances because on these sorts of wickets if you miss chances it could be really difficult for the bowlers.

This will be the sixth time New Zealand go into a Test with three spinners in the last 30 years, losing five of those Tests and drawing one.

McCullum said the plan to play Vettori was well debated.

“We spoke to Dane earlier in the tour. The wickets over here are so suited to spin bowling. So considering the fact it has been very hard on the bowlers, we looked at perhaps the balance of the team and we decided that a spinning all-rounder will also be handy at No 6 position.

“Dane is an optimist as well and he is excited about the opportunity and I am sure he will be a bit nervous as it is couple of years since he donned the black cap but he is a wonderful player.

“Even if it’s maybe his last one and it will be great fun to play and go out on his terms and rather than slide out of his wonderful Test career.”

Teams (from):

PAKISTAN: Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Zulfiqar Babar, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil, Taufiq Umar, Haris Sohail.

NEW ZEALAND: Brendon McCullum (captain), Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, B.J. Watling, Daniel Vettori, Mark Craig, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell, Luke Ronchi, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Hamish Rutherford, Jimmy Neesham.

Umpires: Rod Tucker and Paul Reiffel (both Australia).

TV umpire: Ranmore Martinesz (Sri Lanka).

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe).

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2014

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