Vettori has six appeal

New Zealand plan to unleash five-man bowling attack at McLean Park

Last updated: 10th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Vettori has six appeal

Vettori: move up the order

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New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori will bat at number six in the series decider against Pakistan, which starts in Napier on Friday.

Vettori, who averages 29.87 in 96 Tests, took the decision to allow his side a five-man bowling attack in the winner-takes-all third Test at McLean Park, a venue that has favoured batsmen in recent years.

Depending on conditions, seamer Tim Southee or off-spinner Jeetan Patel will come into the New Zealand team as the extra bowler. With the wicket appearing to have more grass covering than usual, Southee is the clear favourite.

The Black Caps are likely to be without all-rounder Grant Elliott, who is struggling with a knee injury, while Peter Fulton has been dropped.

The task of stiffening New Zealand's misfiring top order falls to South African-born batsman BJ Watling.

Watling debut

Watling has been in good form in domestic cricket this season but boasts a first-class career average of only 30.35.

He looks set to open the batting with Tim McIntosh, allowing Martin Guptill and Daniel Flynn to bat at three and five respectively.

Medium pacer Iain O'Brien will be making his farewell appearance, having already announced he will retire from international cricket after the match.

Pakistan are looking to continue the form that brought them a 141-run victory in the second Test in Wellington to level the series at 1-1.

The tourists could name an unchanged XI although the out-of-form Shoaib Malik is in danger of being dropped for Faisal Iqbal.

New Zealand (from): Daniel Vettori (capt), Tim McIntosh, BJ Watling, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Daniel Flynn, Grant Elliott, Brendon McCullum (wkt), Iain O'Brien, Daryl Tuffey, Chris Martin, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel

Pakistan (from): Mohammad Yousuf (capt) Salman Butt, Khurrum Manzoor, Imran Farhat, Shoaib Malik, Fawad Alam, Faisal Iqbal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal (wkt), Danish Kaneria, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Abdur Rauf, Umer Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed