Cricket: Vettori still plans to step aside

Dan Vettori. Photo / Photosport.

Dan Vettori is standing by his decision to step aside as captain after this season's World Cup.

The New Zealand skipper is missing the three T20 internationals against Pakistan, to give his back some rest before the tests start early next month.

With the upheaval of the last week around the New Zealand team, Vettori said he had not put much thought into the issue.

"I still stand by those words of finishing up after the World Cup," he said of the quadrennial tournament being hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from February 19 until early April.

"I understand things can change and there may be a chance for that, but at this point I'll finish after the cup."

Both Vettori and stand-in skipper Ross Taylor praised the early work of new coach John Wright, who was handed the reins last Monday, replacing Mark Greatbatch and rejigging the backroom staff.

"His real skills are getting around players and making them feel confident," Vettori said. "After that many losses [11 straight ODI defeats] guys tend to question their game, but he's a positive guy and that'll rub off on the players."

Taylor talked of Wright's ethos of team first, above everything.

"That's the first thing he has instilled in us," Taylor said.

"Every time he talks, it's that if we play as a collective we give ourselves the best chance. He's trying to get everyone to trust himself."

Yesterday was the first game on the rearranged Eden Park square, which has desperately short boundaries down the ground, and to fine leg and third man.

Taylor and five-wicket star turn Tim Southee said it brings a rethinking of bowling lengths.

"If we erred, we erred on the shorter side, so if they're going to hit sixes hopefully it's over the bigger boundaries," Taylor said. "The last [pitch configuration, northwest to southeast] was a lefthanders ground. This has probably evened it up. Now it's probably just a batters' ground."

Added Southee: "With the ground a bit bigger square, you've got more margin for error with slower balls and bouncers."

Pakistan's captain, Shahid Afridi, thought it fine for T20s "when people come in and want to see big shots" but wasn't so sure for ODIs.

Taylor demurred. "There's still a reward for bowling well and to a plan."