Vettori to undertake fitness test on Friday

Vettori to undertake fitness test on Friday
New Zealand Cricket - 30 October 2001

Daniel Vettori will undergo a fitness test on Friday and could rejoin the CLEAR Black Caps in Australia as early as Saturday.

Vettori returned to New Zealand last Thursday with an ankle ligament injury and it was feared that he would be out of cricket for 6-8 weeks. His recovery, however, has been far faster than initially anticipated and he is now walking and running comfortably.

The left-arm spinner's fitness test on Friday will include bowling under match conditions. Vettori will join a New Zealand Cricket Academy side in a one-day game against the State Auckland Aces. He will bowl and field for part of an innings but will not bat. The match will take place at the Lincoln Green, Lincoln with play starting at 10.30am.

Should Vettori satisfactorily come through the fitness test, he will rejoin the CLEAR Black Caps squad in Australia on Saturday.

New Zealand Cricket Operations Manager, John Reid, said should Vettori return to Australia at the weekend he would continue rehabilitation treatment under the supervision of New Zealand Cricket fitness adviser, Warren Frost, who is currently with the side.

"Daniel's injury was extremely painful and his ankle was very swollen in the initial stages making early diagnosis difficult. Happily the ligament damage has not been as serious as initially feared and intensive treatment in the first 48 hours following the injury has played a major part in Daniel's rapid recovery.

"Daniel will undertake a controlled re-introduction to cricket and will not be risked by rushing a return before he is fully fit. However, should he come through Friday's fitness test without incident, we have taken the view that it is more sensible for him to continue his rehabilitation within the team environment."

According to Reid, at this stage an optimistic but not unrealistic target is to have Vettori ready to play South Australia in Adelaide on Friday, 16 November.

"At this stage we'd like to think Daniel will be available for the Second Test in Hobart and therefore ideally he'd get some bowling first against South Australia."

Reid said a decision about the return to New Zealand of replacement player, Paul Wiseman, would be taken once the outcome of Vettori's fitness test is known and the timing of his return to match play is clearer.

Teams	New Zealand.
Players/Umpires	Daniel Vettori, John Reid, Paul Wiseman.
Tours	New Zealand in Australia