http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DL-Vettori-c1384’s absence – A blow to New Zealand’s chances against India - Opinion
Having injured his groin during the first Test of the two-match series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750. The news has come as
a major setback for the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754, who are already struggling to compete at the global level.
The Kiwis were totally outplayed in the Antigua Test, losing out by nine wickets. Their batsmen performed efficiently in the match; however, the real concern remained their impotent bowling attack, which was thrashed by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CH-Gayle-c1221 and company, who
scored more than six hundred runs in the match after losing 11 wickets.
In the former captain’s absence, things looked dark for the visitors for the second Test. However, the young Kiwis bowled well and troubled the West Indian batsmen in the first innings, although they failed to avoid defeat.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BB-McCullum-c1129, the New Zealand vice-captain, was extremely disappointed to have lost Vettori because of an injury and confessed that the seasoned left-arm spinner will be missed.
The 33-year-old cricketer resigned from Test captaincy in 2010 and left the job from the shorter formats after the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Auckland-c766 has been the spearhead
of New Zealand’s bowling attack, picking up more than 600 victims at the global arena, to go with more than six thousand runs, including six Test centuries.
The lanky spinner remains a vital cog in the Kiwi team; although he could manage only one wicket in the only Test he played during the tour of West Indies and failed to make an impression against a strong home team.
Apart from being a fantastic bowler, McCullum said that Vettori is the most experienced New Zealand cricketer at the moment and will be dearly missed while doing home work for the series against India.
"It's a huge loss, not just the performance on the field which he's done for a number of years consistently and really led us from that point of view, but also what he offers in the change-room and when we're out on the field," the top-order batsman
expressed. "You know you've got that experience to call on for some of the younger bowlers.”
The wicketkeeper/batsman paid tribute to the injured cricketer and believes that he has been a great servant of Kiwi cricket over the years.
"He's had a phenomenal career and we hope he rests up and gets himself recuperated we're able to get him back into a team that's performing a bit better than we have of late," he added.
The Kiwi bowling has been weakened by the former captain’s absence and the team’s character will be severely tested during the tour of India, against one of the strongest batting line-ups of the globe.
The team management has opted to replace Vettori with the off-spinner, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JS-Patel-c1747, who has been doing well in county cricket in the on-going season. However, the experience and the quality of the great left-arm spinner are irreplaceable.
After a disastrous tour of the Caribbean, losing all three formats of the game, New Zealand are desperate to regain some confidence by doing well in sub-continent. The two teams will play two Tests and as many T20 Internationals, which will be followed
by the ICC World T20 2012, to be held in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in September/October.
Disclaimer: Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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