Cricket: Vettori's return good news for New Zealand

Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori will make his comeback from a back injury for Northern Districts in their Shell Cup cricket match against Otago in Oamaru today.

Vettori was yesterday cleared by New Zealand Cricket's medical panel, but he is likely to be restricted in the number of overs he can bowl.

Vettori, aged 21, suffered a stress fracture in his back in the first test in Zimbabwe in September but has made steady progress on a carefully managed rehabilitation programme.

He satisfied NZ Cricket's medical panel that he was ready for the step up when bowling a few overs without a hint of pain for Northern Districts A last week.

Players' coordinator Gilbert Enoka described Vettori's return as "a breath of fresh air on the back of some fickle winds."

"It is great news. He has been building steadily and there has been no pain. Dan and the medical panel see this as a steady step towards resuming international cricket."

Enoka said if Vettori came through cup matches against Otago, Canterbury and Wellington without any problems, he would be considered for New Zealand's one-day series against Sri Lanka, starting in Napier on January 31.

New Zealand's injury crisis has been notable for players returning to the fold less than 100 per cent fit, but Enoka doubts this will be the case with Vettori.

"The panel doesn't feel you can get a less stressful resumption than this."

In the other seventh round matches, Canterbury will host Central Districts at Timaru, while Auckland meet Wellington in the capital.

The last time the teams met, Northern beat Otago by four wickets, Wellington pipped Auckland by five runs while Central's game against Canterbury was a washout.

Northern lead the table with nine points, Otago, Auckland and Central have seven each, Canterbury have four and Wellington two.

- NZPA