Cricket: One dayers off menu as Vettori recharges

Daniel Vettori says after 15 years of constant cricket it is time to give his body a break. Photo / Christine Cornege

Dan Vettori has confirmed he is taking a year off ODI and T20 international cricket, but tests remain his passion and his priority.

However the former New Zealand captain is desperate to be part of the New Zealand team which will co-host the World Cup in 2015 with Australia.

He believes the time is right to give his body a break after 15 years of constant international cricket, with the travel and training grind on top of the sheer volume of games he has played.

"I know I'll be 36 at the time of the World Cup and there's a lot of permutations between now and then," he told the Weekend Herald. "Hopefully if I'm good enough and can stay injury-free I will have that opportunity.

"Part of the break is around injuries and trying to stay a little bit fresher and I'll reassess the situation at the end of the contract year and go again from there."

Apart from spending more time with his family, the world-class allrounder's decision will be a boost for Northern Districts.

Vettori anticipates playing Plunket Shield matches for the province as test commitments permit, and while one-day games are off the menu, is weighing up the HRV Cup T20 competition.

"They're keen for me to be involved and it's obviously less intense than international stuff. I'll sit down and decide on that in the next little while because they need some answers too and are looking at overseas players and what to do with that."

Vettori's test numbers illustrate his importance to New Zealand. In 104 matches, he's taken 344 wickets at 33.75 apiece - second only to Sir Richard Hadlee's 431 - and scored 4159 runs with six centuries, at 30.35. Only four players have scored more test runs for New Zealand.

His 2053 runs and record 274 wickets from 268 ODIs also make a strong statement of his value.

Next summer there will be tests away and at home against Zimbabwe, plus Australia and South Africa, seven altogether.

"I want to play tests as long as I can. That's the part of the game I've always loved. I want to be fully fit and prepared and ready to go for those and sometimes a lack of preparation can hinder your test performance.

"So hopefully there's a nice buildup to each of those series and I can hit the ground running."

Vettori came home briefly from the Indian Premier League last month for a cortisone injection into a troublesome knee. It has improved and he is on a rehab programme.

He is due to play in the new domestic Sri Lankan T20 competition in July but is taking a wait-and-see approach to that. Then there's the Champions League in late September, where he will link up with Royal Challengers Bangalore, whom he captained to the IPL runners-up spot.

He will still be available for the IPL next season and frankly admitted he "won't hide behind the fact it's good remuneration".

Should another spinner step up in his absence and make a strong case for a permanent spot in the short versions, Vettori would welcome the challenge.

"I think that would be a good thing for me, reignite that challenge to fight pretty hard for a place in the team.

"It's weighed on my mind that I might fall back into the pack and may not be able to fight my way back. But you've got to back yourself if you want to get back."

And Vettori gave his successor as captain, Ross Taylor, a seal of approval.

"I think Ross will do a great job. I don't know where that conservative tag comes from because I don't think he'll be like that at all. He's got a really good cricket brain."