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Captain says openers need to make up for Fleming's absence
Vettori: Twenty20 success can lead to ODI selection
Cricinfo staff
September 3, 2007
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Daniel Vettori will be guiding New Zealand at the Twenty20 World Championship and he hopes the squad's less experienced players step up
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Any of New Zealand's inexperienced players who excel at the Twenty20 World Championship have a strong chance of making the ODI team, according to the new captain Daniel Vettori. The 15-man squad includes the uncapped Nathan McCullum and Bradley Scott, and also features Gareth Hopkins, whose ODI experience is limited to one series three years ago
"I think there's a definite connection between Twenty20 and ODI cricket, which means any of the new guys who demonstrate top form at this world tournament, against the best opposition players going around, must be putting themselves squarely in the frame for the one-day side," Vettori told the Star Times. "There are a couple of spots that are probably open in the ODI squad, so whoever comes out on top in this tournament has probably got a good chance of stepping up."
Vettori specifically mentioned Nathan McCullum, the offspinning allrounder, and Scott, the left-arm seamer, as players with the potential to earn higher honours. "Brad's been just as good as anyone else in domestic cricket and he also performed well for New Zealand A, so if he replicates that form at international level I don't see why his progress shouldn't continue," Vettori said.
"Nathan, first and foremost, is a good spinner who has a good understanding of how to bowl in any given situation. He's quite clever in the way he changes his pace and for a finger-spinner that's one of his biggest weapons. Throw in his ability in the field and his usefulness with the bat, and he's the sort of player you want in a Twenty20 side."
Vettori also said there would be a heavy reliance on the openers Lou Vincent and Brendon McCullum. "Not having Stephen Fleming is something you feel instantly in the team, but it provides the opportunity for someone to step into his role," Vettori said.
"Lou Vincent and Brendon McCullum will be the two guys up front and they need to do that role or we will come unstuck. The openers have the most important role in Twenty20 cricket, they have to take advantage of the first six overs of field restrictions and they have to do most of the damage. Hopefully you don't have to bat much below your top five, otherwise you're going to have problems setting a decent total."
Vettori said the management would make sure that all 15 players get a outing in the two warm-up games against Australia and West Indies to arrive at the best possible XI for the opening game against Kenya. "Whoever emerges with the best form from those two warm-up games will probably get the nod," Vettori said.
"So there'll be quite a bit of pressure from the word go. The majority of our guys have been indoors for the past three months; it will almost be a novelty to get outside. But if you're heading into a world tournament, you need some game time behind you."
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