Cricket: Old heads will be up to test

Daniel Vettori has a wealth of experience. File photo / Ross Setford

The onus goes on the experience of Daniel Vettori and Ross Taylor to bolster New Zealand's cricketing reputation in the test series against South Africa starting this week in Dunedin.

The Black Caps have shown glimpses of parity in the one-dayers and Twenty20 matches but history simply records two lost series against more clinical opposition. As the matches get longer the South Africans are expected to get stronger.

New Zealand missed Vettori's parsimony in the limited overs matches but he has committed to a worthwhile diet of first-class cricket in the meantime. Northern Districts have benefited as a result, winning two matches to stay atop the Plunket Shield table.

Vettori has taken nine wickets at 18.67, including a match-winning five for 89 over Canterbury in Rangiora. Admittedly, ND set Canterbury a chase of 503 to win so he had plenty of runs to bowl at. His batting at No 5 has been less glowing, averaging 21.80 in five innings.

The return of the 33-year-old all-rounder is reassuring but holds an element of false promise. In 11 tests against South Africa Vettori has taken 18 of his 356 test wickets at 69.66. That compares to a career average of 33.65. New Zealand's last test against South Africa was in 2007 but getting penetration through their batting line-up has been difficult.

Statistics aside, Vettori's value to the New Zealand test team cannot be underestimated. Last month he clocked up 15 years test experience. His repertoire of deliveries using flight, drift, speed and angle variations will be useful bowling to batsmen of the Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers ilk. He also brings inside knowledge having played with or against a number of the South Africans in the Indian Premier League. De Villiers is a current Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate.

With the bat, Vettori averages 29 against South Africa (including three half-centuries) compared with 30.69 over his 108 test career. That is less of a concern than the disparity in his South Africa versus career bowling averages but he has not been prolific. Of his 17 innings, 15 have been at Nos 8 or 9 in the order so he has plenty to prove from No 6.

Taylor made his test debut against South Africa in 2007 and averages 11 in two tests against them. His record elsewhere is also patchy. In 14 innings across all formats he has just one half-century.

Still, Taylor is not one to let the issue of poor numbers deter him. Four test innings are also not enough to suggest he might struggle against arguably the best attack in the game. It is a shame his comeback from injury was stifled by inclement weather in Napier yesterday with Central Districts batting against Auckland.

The importance of Taylor and Vettori's input has been compounded by Jesse Ryder's latest instance of Groundhog Day. They could appoint (or employ) a minder for Ryder as the Pune Warriors are understood to have done in the past. The team shouldn't have to tolerate baby-sitting on the periphery.

The man is 27-years-old and needs to use the time out to take stock of his life. He could have been useful against the might of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander.

At least Ryder's omission (and the ongoing recovery of Dean Brownlie) gives Rob Nicol a chance at test level. Nicol has fought back to be a technically proficient batsman who could slot in as a useful No 5 and offer several overs of probing spin.