Cricket: Vettori is raring to test bad back

Daniel Vettori

Fingers will be crossed when Daniel Vettori marks his return to international cricket in the first test against Zimbabwe.

Vettori and team-mates left yesterday for New Zealand's pre-tour build-up in Namibia, after which they will fly into Zimbabwe to prepare for next month's opening test match at Bulawayo.

The last time Vettori played a test match in Zimbabwe was an ill-fated experience in 2000, when he re-injured a back-injury after a six month layoff and was forced out of action for another year.

Interest is sure to be just as high this time around, given the 26-year-old left-armer was forced to miss both tests against Sri Lanka at the end of last summer after another recurrence of his back complaint.

However, he said yesterday that his confidence and fitness had been restored during a three-month rehabilitation programme, and that he was now anxious to charge back into the fray against Zimbabwe.

"The time off has been good for me," he said. "It's been a really helpful break; I think I needed it, and now I feel as if I'm getting back to 100 per cent.

"This is an important tour for the team, but it's probably even more important for guys like myself, Kyle Mills and Brendon McCullum, who haven't played during the winter.

"We have to get up to speed pretty quickly and we haven't got a lot of time."

Probably the most controversial tour in New Zealand cricket history, the Zimbabwe visit has been condemned by politicians, lobbyists and the general public, and will take place against a backdrop of Robert Mugabe-perpetrated human-rights abuses.

Vettori toured Zimbabwe for the first time in 1997 and, although his 2000 campaign was cut short by injury, he said he was looking forward to returning and comparing the present situation with what he remembered.

"I'm really looking forward to getting away to Zimbabwe," he said. "I know a few of the things surrounding the tour aren't flash, but it's been a long time since I've been there, and it'll be good to have another look.

"It used to be a great place to tour. I've always found the facilities and the grounds over there to be fantastic. In terms of cricket it's always been good because you get looked after so well."

He believed the danger this time was in underrating the host international squad, which had been considerably weakened over the past few years after a wrangle between players and the administration.

But with veteran all-rounder Heath Streak back in the fold, Vettori said no one could be complacent about playing the Zimbabweans in their own backyard.

There was also the small matter of coming up against India in the one-day tri-series, a challenge that Vettori said would extend any opponent, and would provide an instant acid test for New Zealand.

"India have got a couple of new names but they've also got the tried and tested, and will be very tough one-day opponents, especially on those flat grounds in Zimbabwe," he said.

"On top of that, they probably play in Zimbabwe more than anyone, so they'll know what they need to do and will doubtless be very strong."