New Zealand's Vettori out of India Tests
Influential spinner Daniel Vettori will miss New Zealand's tour of
India after failing to recover from a groin strain picked up in the West
Indies, cricket chiefs said on Tuesday.
New Zealand's most capped Test player was omitted from a 15-man squad
for the two-Test tour of India beginning on August 23, along with
underperforming batsman Dean Brownlie.
Chief selector Kim Littlejohn said Vettori would be replaced by
off-spinner Jeetan Patel, who has been plying his trade in English
county cricket since being dropped late last year.
"Jeetan has been in great from for Warwickshire and deserves his
opportunity," Littlejohn said.
Brownlie, who average just 15.75 as New Zealand slumped to a 2-0 Test
series loss in the West Indies, was dropped in favour of allrounder
James Franklin.
The series will be new coach Mike Hesson's first in charge of the
Black Caps, after veteran John Wright departed after the West Indies
series.
New Zealand will also play two Twenty20 internationals in India, with
the squad for those matches yet to be announced.
The 15-man New Zealand squad for a two-Test tour of India beginning
on August 23: Ross Taylor (c), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Daniel
Flynn, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum,
Tarun Nethula, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee, Kruger van Wyk, Neil Wagner,
BJ Watling, Kane Williamson. The 15-man New Zealand squad announced
Tuesday for a two-Test tour of India beginning on August 23: Ross Taylor
(c), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Martin
Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tarun Nethula, Jeetan Patel,
Tim Southee, Kruger van Wyk, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.
AFP
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