Vettori confident of making first Test

Daniel Vettori will head into the first Test at Lord's with only 11 overs in English conditions under his belt after injuring his finger against Essex during his first tour game since arriving from India.

Vettori, who had been excused the initial pair of practice matches to take part in the IPL, is convinced he will make the Test which begins on May 15, although the problem has ruled him out of the final warm-up, a four-day tie against England Lions at the Rose Bowl which starts on Thursday.

"I'm confident of being ready for the first Test," Vettori told the Dominion Post, adding that his injury was a rare one. "I've never seen it happen to anyone else in cricket - and the number of times guys catch cricket balls, it's amazing. But I'll just get on with it as best as I can." New Zealand Cricket confirmed: "He is expected to be fit for the first Test."

Vettori rued needing two stitches on his spinning finger after taking a return throw from Brendon McCullum in the first innings, when he had 1 for 23.

"Things started well for me when I bowled," he told the Times, "and coupled with three more bats that would have been ideal preparation." Vettori should have his stitches out in a week, during the final warm-up game, though Jeetan Patel does offer spin-bowling cover if required.

While Vettori may have grabbed little practice this time around, his Test record in England for bowling is good, averaging 32.42, a fraction lower than his overall record of 34.80. He has made two fifties in nine innings and although his batting average of 19.50 is down on his overall achievement of 27.38, in recent years his batting has been increasingly relied upon and he has responded in kind.

The Lord's Test is the first of three for the tour, before a Twenty20 and five one-dayers.