Cricket: Vettori's form earns respect of Aussies

Daniel Vettori

You get the feeling that for Daniel Vettori today's third one-dayer is not so much a game of cricket as a game of cat and mouse.

The spearhead of New Zealand's one-day attack, Vettori was neutralised by Australia's ultra-cautious approach in the second one-dayer, a tactic that set the scene for a run-scoring bonanza later in the innings.

His response today will be one of the more interesting side-attractions of the heavily-supported ODI at Eden Park, where the pitch is expected to suit his left-arm orthodox spin.

Vettori, the fourth New Zealand bowler employed during the previous match in Christchurch, was treated with kid-gloves by the opposition batsmen and conceded just 31 runs off his 10 overs.

Not since the days of Richard Hadlee in the mid-1980s has a New Zealand bowler commanded so much respect from an Australian batting line-up, although Vettori admits it's caused a couple of complications.

"Whenever a team looks like they're throttling back against you it's a nice feeling, but the flipside is that it neutralises my influence and I can't do my job - which is taking wickets through the middle stages," says Vettori.

"At the moment they're blunting me and I'm not getting those wickets. In some ways I'd rather be taking two for 45."

The dilemma is an interesting one for New Zealand supporters in that Vettori and his coach John Bracewell might well consider a change of plans in order to provide some extra temptation for the opposition.

The theory is that New Zealand could try to call the Australians' bluff by employing Vettori well inside the first 15 overs, and at a time when only two fieldsmen are allowed outside the 30m circle.

Vettori said the other part of the equation was the need for the entire bowling attack to work better as a combination, so that pressure could be built at both ends and batsmen were forced to take more risks.

"I'm obviously happy about the way I'm performing but it's pretty hollow when you're not winning games," he said.

"I've said before that if we get two other guys taking two for 40-ish after my 10, then we'll be in a pretty good position.

"It worked last time because we weren't able to build any pressure, but once we do that, we'll have a good shot at winning."

Off-spinner Dipak Patel most notably opened the bowling for New Zealand in the 1992 World Cup, and while Vettori said he probably wouldn't take the new ball today, an earlier-than-usual introduction could be on the cards.

"I think it's an option at Eden Park, which is a bit slow and suited to the spinners," he said.

"If you come on at about the 10th or 12th over it's not too bad, so it's a possibility."

The irony of Vettori's purple patch this summer is that only a year ago he was being heavily criticised for a lack of results, with veteran Otago and Pakistani coach Billy Ibadulla picking holes in his action.

Ibadulla effectively said there wasn't anything wrong with Vettori's bowling except his run-up, approach, delivery-stride, grip and release, attracting a somewhat tense response from the bowler.

"I probably got a little bit upset when people were questioning my technique, because it clearly wasn't the problem ... my technique hasn't changed at all," he said.

"I could understand people's concerns but I'm still unsure about what the problem was - if there was any - because I'm doing nothing different now."

The 26-year-old will today play his 149th ODI (equalling the mark of former test batsman John Wright) and all going well will play his 150th ODI at Wellington on Tuesday - the seventh New Zealander to reach the milestone.

Daniel Vettori

* 26 years old.
* 148 ODIs taking 137 wickets with a 34.48 average and economy rate of 4.29