Cricket: Nervy Vettori wary of Scotland

Daniel Vettori is unusually nervous ahead of his team's opening world Twenty20 match. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand cricket captain Daniel Vettori is unusually nervous and on edge ahead of his team's opening world Twenty20 match in London.

New Zealand are expected to walk all over minnows Scotland in the group D encounter tomorrow night (NZT), an assumption which does not sit easily with Vettori.

"It is probably the most nerve wracking game we can have first up," Vettori today told reporters in the English capital.

"We know it is a must win and if we win it we are through to the next round.

"We do not want to be the team who slips up against an associate team. We have seen it happen at World Cups in the past.

"First up we have to be as professional as possible and win the game comfortably."

Vettori's unease is shared by his coach Andy Moles, who has previously coached Scotland.

"It (the game) is a potential banana skin," Moles said.

"Ninety-nine times out of a hundred you will win it but especially in the shorter form of the game all it takes is one or two of the Scottish players to have a good day, or perhaps one or two bad overs at the wrong time, and it can change a game."

Vettori said he had been pleased with his team's preparation for the 12-nation tournament, including time spent training at late philanthropist Sir Paul Getty's Wormsley Park estate in Buckinghamshire.

They have had three pre-tournament outings, beating the Netherlands and India before losing heavily to Australia in warmup matches.

"There is a lot of confidence in the team but we know we have to back it up with performances in these first two games (against Scotland, and South Africa at Lord's next Wednesday)."

Vettori was not at all put out by suggestions New Zealand enter the tournament considered one of the sleeper teams, saying the side's erratic performance graph meant they were often overlooked when others considered the major title contenders.

"I think every tournament we go to, if people talk about us like that ... it's probably a knock on the side that we are not consistent enough to be considered one of the favourites.

"(But) this tournament is a chance for us to put that consistency together.

"We have high expectations of ourselves. While we may fly under the radar in terms of world cricket, the people who care about New Zealand cricket have high expectations."

The New Zealanders have solid inside knowledge of the no-name Scotland outfit because of Moles' previous involvement with the International Cricket Council associate member nation.

"We have a good insight on a lot of their players. I will be disappointed if there are any surprises," Vettori said.

The Scots enter the match having previously played just five Twenty20 fixtures, and only one of them against a test playing country.

The majority of their players are amateurs who hold down regular jobs, although captain Gavin Hamilton is known to give the ball a nudge and allrounder Craig Wright is a stabilising influence within their ranks.

Scotland impressed despite losing by six wickets to England in a practice match on Tuesday, with the English getting home after Kevin Pietersen hit an unbeaten 53 to run down the target of 137 with six balls to spare.

New Zealand take on Scotland without seam bowler Kyle Mills, who will watch from the stands as he rests a back injury.

Moles said Mills was recovering from a back injury and had responded well to treatment this week.

"His condition will be monitored over the next few days before a decision is made on whether he plays in the game against South Africa on Tuesday."

Team management said punishing batsman Jesse Ryder was expected to take his place against Scotland after receiving pain relief this week for a groin injury.

New Zealand (from): Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, Neil Broom, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, Ian Butler, Nathan McCullum, Brendon Diamanti, James Franklin, Peter McGlashan.

Scotland (from): Gavin Hamilton (captain), Richie Berrington, Kyle Coetzer, Gordon Drummond, Majid Haq, Neil McCallum, Calum Macleod, Dewald Nel, Navdeep Poonia, Glenn Rogers, Colin Smith, Jan Stander, Ryan Watson, Fraser Watts, Craig Wright.

- NZPA