Cricket: Vettori seeks early chance

Expect Daniel Vettori to play a more prominent role for the World XI in tonight's second one-dayer against Australia at Melbourne.

The last bowler called upon by Shaun Pollock in the opening game on Wednesday night, Vettori stunned the Australians with a four-wicket bag, ripping through the middle order to send back Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Shane Watson.

But as well as Vettori bowled, Pollock's decision to delay his introduction until the 30th over allowed Australia to steal a march in the first half of the innings, an advantage that would ultimately cost the World team the game.

Vettori said last night he enjoyed his success at the bowling crease but hoped he'd have an earlier chance to influence the tempo of the match this evening, when the two teams return to the Telstra Dome for Game 2.

"I felt good and was pleased with the wickets, but I started a bit later than I'm used to and maybe that's something that can be looked at in the next match," he said.

"I'd love to get the chance to influence things a bit earlier if possible because I don't think the pitch conditions will change much, and taking pace off the ball should still be a critical factor."

While Vettori acknowledged that the World team performed dismally with the bat on Wednesday night, he said all of his team-mates were hanging their heads after the 93-run loss, and were disappointed to hear the Super Series concept being rubbished after the first outing.

More encouraging he said, was the determination of the World players to reverse the result at Docklands tonight and send the inaugural series into a deciding third match at the same venue on Sunday.

"After the game, the guys were down and pretty disappointed about how things had ended, and in a way it was good to see the depth of feeling involved."

"Players of that calibre don't like losing to anyone, much less the Australians, so the result came as a bit of a kick in the guts for everyone.

"But it was just as encouraging to watch the resolve of the team harden and attention turn to the next game. By the time we left the park there was a more determined mood about the whole outfit."

Vettori said he wouldn't be surprised if the World selectors opt for even more spin options in tonight's contest after noting how the drop-in pitch favoured slow bowling and made run-scoring difficult.

The World XI are well served for slow bowling options, through Vettori and Muttiah Muralitharan, Pakistan leggie Shahid Afridi and part-timers Chris Gayle and Virender Sehwag.

"I doubt that pitch is going to change much ... and that could tempt the selectors to play Gayle and Afridi as all-rounders," said Vettori. "It's a real plus having guys in your top-order who can bowl."

Pollock said yesterday the World players knew they owed themselves an improved performance as much as anyone else, and would be pulling out all stops to prove the worth of the Super Series concept.

"We aren't here for the crowd or the media, we're here for ourselves and everyone wants to win," Pollock said. "These guys are proud cricketers and no one likes to go down like that."