Parore's absence would be felt by spinner Vettori

Daniel Vettori, New Zealand's world-class left-arm spinner, will be one player to notice if Adam Parore is not behind the wickets when the Test series with England starts next month.

Parore announced today that he is taking an indefinite break from cricket and was unable to say if he would be available for the Test series.

If he's not, and it is hard to see the national selectors picking him if he hasn't played any State Championship cricket before the Tests, it will be only the second time in Vettori's 36-Test career that Parore hasn't been there.

Lee Germon was wicket-keeper in Vettori's first Test, against England at the Basin Reserve in 1996/97.

"There a couple of good 'keepers floating about, including Chris Nevin, but Adam will be a big loss, everyone knows what a great 'keeper he is.

"Over the last couple of years he has been fantastic behind the wickets for me.

"He is one of the few players who can rate how you are actually bowling. He can see the things I'm doing wrong and ways to suggest getting it back," he said.

Vettori said that if it was Nevin who was selected he would have every faith in him doing the job.

The Hamilton-based 23-year-old, he turned 23 three weeks ago, is thriving on the diet of cricket this summer and while he touches wood when he says it, he is enjoying bowling injury free.

"I was very happy with my back all through the tour in Australia," he said and while there is a big workload still ahead this year, with the England series, the Pakistan and West Indies tours and tournaments in Sharjah and for the ICC Knockout, he believes the year will be the big test for his back.

"I've come through this far without any injury problems," he said.

He is still doing protective exercises, mainly abdomen stretching, and it only has to be recalled how quickly he was returned to the Test side after his ankle injury scare that sent him home from Australia only to return in double quick time for the first Test in Brisbane, to appreciate how valuable he is to the New Zealand side.

That is in both forms of the game.

He's been used slightly differently by captain Stephen Fleming this summer, often appearing very late at the bowling crease as New Zealand work on the sorts of options that need to be tested before being put to the test in South Africa for the World Cup next year.

Both he and Chris Harris haven't bowled as many overs as usual but they are both quite happy with how they are bowling.

A cynic might say that the less they are seen in action the less videotape footage there is for opponents to assess for various situation tactical ploys.

"I have bowled at the death which is really different for me," he said.

Having three or four seamers in mind for playing in South Africa next year was a reasonable proposition while he and Harris round out the attack.

While one-day cricket does make different, and more defensive, demands of Vettori he still enjoys that form of the game and thrives on the big crowds that turn up to watch.

"You don't try as much in one-day games, you are there to contain and take wickets. I've always preferred Test cricket for that reason because you can try a little bit more," he said.

With that in mind he's looking forward to the Test series with England.

"This is another huge series for us to continue the upward momentum we took away from Australia. England have been a very good team over the last couple of years," he said.