Cricket: Vettori on target to return for test series

Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori is sitting out the three Twenty20 matches against the tourists. Photo / Getty Images

Skipper Daniel Vettori says he is on target to return to the Black Caps for the test series against Pakistan.

Vettori, who is sitting out the three Twenty20 matches against the tourists to rest an injured back, is looking to get some cricket under his belt before the first test begins in Hamilton on January 7.

He is keen to play for a New Zealand 11 against Pakistan in a three-day fixture in Whangarei from January 2 to 4, while another option is the domestic T20 final on January 2 if Northern District make it to the championship decider.

In Vettori's absence from the Black Caps, Ross Taylor has taken over the captaincy and today led New Zealand to a five-wicket T20 win over Pakistan in Auckland.

Vettori said he feeling "pretty good" physically, had managed his back well and, if he really needed to, could have played in the T20 series.

"But looking forward to the test matches and how important that series is, I wanted to be as ready as possible for that," he said.

"It gives a couple of guys a chance in this series, and it gives Ross a chance to captain the team as well and he did a great job today."

New Zealand went into the match at Eden Park after having lost their past 11 one-day internationals and with new coach, John Wright, at the helm.

Given the poor run of recent results, Vettori said the focus at the moment was less on the bigger prize of next year's World Cup, than simply trying to get victories under the belt.

"However we can win a Twenty20 series, whether it's 2-1 or 3-0, would be a great start and the same with the test series," he said.

"Once that has all been put to bed, then it will all be about the one-dayers."

Asked about the reaction within the squad to the coaching switch, Vetteori said the players weren't resistent to change.

"The key thing for us is that we need to get on with things regardless of what happens and I think the players have taken that attitude all the way through," he said.

"If a new coach comes in, or an old coach stays, or whatever happens with the selection panel, that's what happens."

He believed one of Wright's strengths was being able instil confidence in the players.

"If anything, that's where we'll be bear fruit from Wrighty because, after so many losses, guys tend to question their game," he said.

"But Wrighty is such a positive guys and I think that will rub off on to a lot of guys in the team."

Meanwhile, Vettori said his intention at the moment was still to step down from the captaincy of his country after the World Cup, which runs from mid-February to early April.

"I understand things can change and there may be a chance for that, but at this very point I would say I would finish up after the World Cup."

- NZPA