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Vettori pins Kiwi hopes on one dayers

“We can’t afford to panic.” — John Bracewell, New Zealand coach

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori believes his side can still salvage something from their tour of England following their Test series defeat if they triumph in the upcoming one-dayears.

The Black Caps were thrashed by an innings and nine runs in the third Test at Trent Bridge on Sunday as they went down 2-0 in a three-match series.

It was the second match in a row where England had won with more than a day to spare and followed their 2-1 Test series win in New Zealand in March.

But the one-off Twenty20 clash at Old Trafford on June 13 and the five match limited overs series which starts two days later could well go New Zealand’s way.

The semi-finalists at last year’s World Cup, New Zealand defeated England 3-1 in a one-day series on home soil before the Test campaign got underway.

In hard-hitting wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum and all-rounder Scott Styris they have players who can turn a game and Vettori believes his largely inexperienced side are more suited to the 50-over format.

“We’re a lot more confident in that form, maybe because it’s shorter and we don’t have to perform for very long periods,” Vettori said.

But the left-arm spin bowler warned past performance was no guide to future success in the limited overs game.

“We know we have to pick it up though, because England do have the momentum, and their squad doesn’t change much and neither does ours. We have to be convincing if we’re to get anything out of this tour at all,” he said.

New Zealand coach John Bracewell said there was no alternative but to be patient with the current crop of players.

“We can’t afford to panic,” said the former Test off-spinner. “Our cupboard isn’t that full but I think we’ve picked the right guys. We’ve just got to keep exposing them to international cricket.”
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