By RICHARD BOOCK
Daniel Vettori still sees South Africa as the team to beat at this World Cup, despite the hosts' nightmare start to their campaign and their tenuous position within Group B.
The New Zealand left-arm spinner has fully recovered from a back strain suffered last week at Johannesburg and is expected to play a full part in today's showdown against Bangladesh at De Beers Diamond Oval.
Playing in his first cup - he didn't get a game in 1999 - Vettori has been able to run his eye over most of the contenders at the tournament, and said apart from the obvious threat of Australia, the South Africans were shaping up as the next most dangerous.
However, in the topsy-turvy world of the eighth edition of the tournament, he conceded he would have tipped Sri Lanka to be the most difficult obstacle - up until their unfathomable loss against Kenya yesterday in Nairobi.
"I just feel that, if the South Africans are given a lifeline and make it through to the Super Six, they'll be very difficult to beat.
"As for Group A, it's hard to tell what's going on apart from Australia's good form, but I'd be surprised if Pakistan and India didn't make it through ahead of England and Zimbabwe."
The most experienced and successful bowler in the New Zealand attack, Vettori is likely to remain in his usual batting position down the order today after making a successful cup debut as an opener against the West Indies.
Having strained his back while bowling in the next match against South Africa, he was replaced at the top of the order by Craig McMillan, who proceeded to feature in a solid first wicket partnership that underpinned New Zealand's upset win.
The word from the New Zealand camp is that they are likely to retain McMillan in the position against Bangladesh, one of the more disappointing teams at the tournament after failing to post a win in their four games so far.
Despite Kenya's thrilling upset over Sri Lanka and Canada's brave effort against the West Indies on Sunday, the non test-playing nations have been attracting some criticism from various commentators, who have suggested they are having a disproportionate influence on the tournament.
The strongest example of this was when the West Indies match against Bangladesh was washed out, denying Carl Hooper's side two critical competition points, and possibly leading to their elimination after the final pool B game next Tuesday.
Vettori said he had some sympathy for the argument but understood the organisers' wish to continue to develop the game.
"But if you look at it from the point of the view of the West Indies, who lost an almost guaranteed four points through rain, you can see where the problems are," said Vettori. "When you have games which are virtually foregone conclusions, then it's important that they're all played."
He said tournament organisers had erred in not scheduling reserve days for first round matches, as the one-sidedness of some matches meant drastic consequences for teams who would have won but for the weather.
"It's created a situation for the West Indies in which, if they lose either of their last two games, they're out - which is pretty harsh given the circumstances."
The various permutations of the round still depend to a large extent on Sri Lanka's last two group games against the West Indies and South Africa - matches that will dictate whether or not New Zealand make the cut.
"The Sri Lanka-West Indies game could go either way but I can't see Sri Lanka beating South Africa in a day-night game in Durban," Vettori said.
"I think the West Indies' chances will depend a lot on the batting form of Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle - and on their batting line-up making runs against that Sri Lankan attack.
"I wouldn't have usually rated Sri Lanka but the pitches over here are at the end of the season; they're old and tired and that suits the sort of game that Sanath Jayasuriya's side play."
New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns, Scott Styris, Lou Vincent, Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram, Andre Adams, Kyle Mills, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Chris Harris, Mathew Sinclair.
Bangladesh: Khaled Mashud (capt), Mohammad Al-Sahariar, Alok Kapali, Habibul Bashar, Hannan Sarker, Ehsanul Haque, Sanuar Hossain, Khaled Mahmud, Manjurul Islam, Masrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Ashraful, Mohammad Rafique, Talha Jubair, Tapash Baisya, Tushar Imran.
* Tonight's games:
Pool A: England v India, Durban.
Pool B: New Zealand v Bangladesh, live on Sky Sport Channels 10 and 12, from 8.30pm.
World Cup schedule
Points table
Cricket: South Africa still a threat says Vettori
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.