Fitness boost for New Zealand
New Zealand have been given a much needed boost ahead of the First Test against Australia at Christchurch, with Nathan Astle and Daniel Vettori both declaring themselves fit
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Astle was suffering from a shoulder injury and Vettori back pain, but as two of New Zealand's most experienced players their return can not come soon enough for a heavily depleted squad. Injuries have ruled out Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, and Michael Papps as well as long term absentee Shane Bond.
"It's good, it was just a bit of a niggle in the AC joint," Astle told the NZPA news agency. "It was more precautionary than anything else. With the [one-day] series gone I just wanted to rest it and be right for Thursday. Everything's fine - throwing, batting, I haven't had a bowl yet, but I'm sure that'll be all right as well."
Vettori is vital for a threadbare Kiwi bowling attack and will once again shoulder a heavy workload in the three-match series. He is just 12 wickets short of 200, and would join Chris Cairns and Sir Richard Hadlee as New Zealanders with that milestone. But despite the number of overs he is likely to bowl Vettori is not concerned: "I'm pretty confident about what I can do. I talked to Stephen [Fleming] and John [Bracewell] about it and I won't be putting any restrictions on myself and they won't be putting any on me either. It'll just be a feel thing but I'm reasonably confident at the moment."
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