News

Vettori to lead one-day side against Bangladesh

Daniel Vettori has been named captain for New Zealand's one-day series in Bangladesh, but will be vice-captain for the Test series

Wisden Cricinfo staff
24-Jun-2005


Daniel Vettori will captain the one-day side against Bangladesh © Getty Images
Daniel Vettori has been named as captain for New Zealand's one-day series in Bangladesh, but will be vice-captain for the Test series. Stephen Fleming, who will lead the Test side, will miss the one-dayers to rest a long-term abdominal injury.
While the move to give Vettori the top job reflected faith in his abilities as a leader, John Bracewell, the coach, said that it was also part of a wider initiative: "We want to develop captaincy skills among key senior players," said Bracewell. "There is a heavy reliance on Stephen Fleming as captain, and a succession plan is required to ensure we have cover in the event he is injured. The one-day series in Bangladesh will give us the opportunity to develop Vettori as a possible captaincy option."
Andre Adams, Peter Fulton and Mathew Sinclair were rewarded with call-ups due to consistent performances, while Jacob Oram - another captaincy option, according to Bracewell - was rested.
"Andre Adams has been selected in the ODI squad following his recent form playing county cricket for Essex," Bracewell explained. "The opportunity given to Andre in county cricket has given him enormous confidence and self-belief and a greater understanding of the make-up of a team and his role within it. This broadening of experience has been essential to his development as a player.
"Peter Fulton is being rewarded for his performances for Canterbury and New Zealand A. His performance for Canterbury shows he is suited to the one-day game and is likely to be suited to the flatter front-foot wickets of Bangladesh. Peter is going as a back-up batter, and the opportunity should be a good experience for him. It will also be good opportunity to see whether players performing well at the A-team level are able to make that step up to the Black Caps."
Sinclair entered the team through the back door, when Michael Papps dislocated his shoulder during a training camp. Bracewell said Papps would be out for more than a month, and acknowledged Sinclair's ability to play well in South Asia.
"Mathew Sinclair is being rewarded for his New Zealand A performances in South Africa. He was the most successful top-order batsmen in the past two A-team series, and has a good understanding of the Black Caps and playing in the subcontinent."
Squad Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Hamish Marshall, Craig McMillan, Brendon McCullum (wk), Scott Styris, Peter Fulton, Chris Harris, Chris Cairns, Daniel Vettori (capt), Andre Adams, Ian Butler, Kyle Mills (one more player to be named later).