SHARJAH // Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand captain, is certain that a surprising, one-off Test recall for Daniel Vettori will not “break” the injury-troubled left-arm spinner.
In his most recent outing, Vettori took one for 41 in nine overs for New Zealand’s second-string team against the UAE at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Sunday.
That was evidence enough for the management that he was fit to make an appearance – likely his last in Tests – in the series climax against Pakistan.
The tourists need to win to halve the series, and will pitch Vettori into a three-man spin attack, alongside Ish Sodhi, the legspinner, and Mark Craig, the offspinner. He could also play a vital role with the bat at No 6, replacing Jimmy Neesham, the pace-bowling all-rounder who has struggled to make an impact in his debut series in the UAE.
“The wickets over here are so suited to spin bowling,” McCullum said.
“We think we already have two very good spin bowlers, who are a work in progress.
“We knew how hard this series would be on the bowlers, looked at the balance of the team and worked out that a spinning all-rounder would also be quite handy.
“When you start to consider that, there was one guy that stood out. Knowing he was coming over for the one-day series, seeing how fit and strong he is, plus the enthusiasm he brings to the team, all those factors started the conversation.
“Here were are and he is going to become our most-capped Test player, so it is exciting for everyone involved. It gives us our biggest chance of winning this Test match.”
Vettori will move ahead of Stephen Fleming to become New Zealand’s most-capped Test player. Each has played 111 times, while Vettori also played the one-off Super Test for the ICC World XI in 2005.
The move carries with it some risk, however. Vettori has struggled for fitness in the recent past, and previously suggested he would not play Test cricket again.
However, McCullum insists his duties in this Test will be tempered to ensure his participation in the ensuing limited-overs series, as well as his home World Cup next year, is not jeopardised.
“We think using three spinners, with Dan being the third one, the workload won’t be overly excessive for him,” McCullum said.
“With a view to the World Cup, we don’t want to break him in a one-off Test situation.
“But we think we can certainly manage him through that with the other two spinners.”
While he is best regarded for his spin bowling, Vettori also has six Test centuries to his name, three of which have come against Pakistan.
Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, said his side have to be wary of the threat he poses with the bat.
“I think that gives them benefit, because he is the kind of player who plays spin well,” Misbah said. “We have to concentrate on that and bowl in the right areas and consider him, because he can be a dangerous batsman also.”
Third Test in numbers
1 – Only one of the six Test matches Sharjah has hosted to date has ended in a draw. As if that is not remarkable enough, given that it is generally thought of as a batsman-friendly ground, the only draw was brought about when it rained.
53 – Pakistan's second-innings total against Australia in the first Sharjah Test of 2002. They had only managed 59 in the first innings, after Shane Warne took eight for 24 in the match.
149 – Sarfraz Ahmed's average with the bat in this series. The wicketkeeper, pictured, has been in stunning form, yet he is only third-best among Pakistanis in this series. Ahmed Shahzad scored 176 in his one innings, while Mohammed Hafeez average 197 from his two.
269 – Runs Tom Latham has managed so far in the series. The New Zealand opener has scored back-to-back centuries.
Our verdict
New Zealand might find it easier divining water from the desert than forcing victory in this Test, unless the wicket in Sharjah has had a personality transplant. Even though five of the six Tests played here have had results, forcing 20 Pakistan wickets will be tough.
pradley@thenational.ae
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