SHARJAH: Veteran left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori’s comeback and who wins the toss will be the joint focus in the series-deciding third Test between Pakistan and New Zealand starting in Sharjah today.
New Zealand have included Vettori in the eleven in their bids to level the series which they trail 1-0 after losing the first Test by 248 runs in Abu Dhabi and drawing the second in Dubai.
The 35-year-old Vettori, who has 360 wickets, played the last of his 112 Tests (one Test for ICC World XI and the rest for New Zealand) in July 2012 and has since been sidelined due to a back injury.
Skipper Brendon McCullum confirmed Vettori will replace Jimmy Neesham in the side. “Yeah, Dane will play and we are all excited about it,” said McCullum yesterday.
“He will become the most capped Test player for New Zealand and we are going with three spinners.”
Vettori will overtake Stephen Fleming who also played 111 Tests for New Zealand.
Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq admitted Vettori’s inclusion showed New Zealand’s aspiration to level the series.
“Vettori is an experienced campaigner but we have played him before so we know how he bowls,” he said. Despite the odds, New Zealand staged an impressive comeback in the second Test in Dubai.
McCullum said his team can take confidence from an improved performance in the second Test.
“We would have loved to have won the second Test,” said McCullum.
“But you have to look at what we have done in Dubai, bank the confidence and head to Sharjah knowing that we have an opportunity to win away from home if we play up a little bit up.”
Pakistan will bring in opener Mohammad Hafeez who missed the second Test due to a hamstring injury.
His bowling action was reported as suspect after the first Test but he can bowl in Sharjah, pending a report of a bio-mechanical analysis performed in England on Monday.AFP
