Cricket: Vettori relishes big chance

By RICHARD BOOCK


Whatever challenges might face Daniel Vettori in Bangladesh next month, confidence doesn't appear to be one of his immediate concerns.

Named caretaker captain of the New Zealand one-day side for the series, Vettori has rejected any suggestion of nervousness, and has instead predicted a 3-nil clean sweep.

"We know it's going to be a challenge in Bangladesh but we're also aware that we should win the tests and ODIs comfortably, and that's the aim," he said yesterday.

"The idea of a colossal upset is always in the back of your mind but - to be honest, these guys shouldn't be in the same league as us, and that should become clearer as the tour continues."

The 25-year-old will become the first specialist spinner to captain New Zealand at international level when he takes over from Stephen Fleming at the end of the test series against Bangladesh.

The only other specialist bowlers to have captained New Zealand are Gavin Larsen, who stood in for three ODIs in 1993-94, Dion Nash (1998-99) and the late Harry Cave, who held the reins for nine tests in 1955-56.

However, if Vettori was overwhelmed by the significance of the moment he wasn't showing it yesterday, as he spoke of the expectations facing New Zealand in the upcoming test and ODI series.

The youngest spinner in test cricket to claim a 100 wickets, he acknowledged it was unusual for bowlers to be named captain because of the risk of the job affecting their performance, and especially their judgment in the field.

Knowing when to introduce themselves to the bowling crease or when to take themselves off was often far more difficult than making similar decisions about team-mates, he said.

"I guess that's going to be one of the biggest questions surrounding my performance in Bangladesh. Bowling captains sometimes have a tendency to underbowl themselves, but I feel confident enough to cope with that pressure.

"If you've got the experience, the confidence and the personality to do the job, I don't think it really matters whether you're a batsman, a bowler or an all-rounder."

Vettori, who has played 55 tests and 138 ODIs in a career spanning nine years, said he also found it stimulating to have a new challenge, and to be involved at such a high level of team management.

"I'm happy, I've got to say it," he said. "I don't usually get very excitable but this is a new frontier, and I'm looking forward to everything it holds."

Fleming and test team-mate Jacob Oram will return to New Zealand after the tests at Dhaka and Chittagong, allowing Vettori to be trialled as captain, and for further assessments for the recalled Mathew Sinclair and Andre Adams.

There will also be a touring opportunity for rookie Canterbury batsman Peter Fulton, who was picked at the expense of opener Michael Papps, ruled out after dislocating his shoulder this week.

Sinclair will take Papps' place in the test squad.

Fleming yesterday welcomed the news that Vettori would lead the ODI side, saying it made "good, sound business sense" to prepare for an event or a time when the established captain was unavailable.

"To me, it sounds like good business practice to be prepared for all eventualities and to have made arrangements for a successor if required," he said. "I look back at how the captaincy was effectively thrust on me in the mid-90s, and I've got to say that this sounds a lot more sensible."

New Zealand

Daniel Vettori (c), Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Peter Fulton, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Brendon McCullum, Chris Harris, Kyle Mills, Andre Adams, Ian Butler.