Vettori unfazed ahead of South Africa tour

Not even Stephen Fleming, who was widely considered one of the modern game's most astute leaders, has led New Zealand to a series win in South Africa. But the recently installed captain, Daniel Vettori, has no qualms about taking over the reins ahead of his side's three-Test tour which gets underway in November.

"I have thought about the responsibilities and have planned how I want to do things," Vettori said at Sydney before flying out to South Africa. "I like to think I have always thought about the game. Really, it is not too much of a step up."

Vettori took over the one-day captaincy from Fleming after the World Cup and, in September, the selectors decided to install him as the Test captain too. But although he only has limited experience in captaining Northern Districts at first-class level, he isn't alien to the role and has substituted for Fleming on occasions.

"While I haven't done the job full time, I have done enough to take confidence from what I have done," he said. "But I'm not silly enough to see it [the captaincy] as a bed of roses. It is more of a progression. We know Stephen Fleming is going to retire at some stage and I'm pleased to have been given the opportunity to follow him."

One criticism levelled at his leadership in the past has been a tendency to underbowl himself, an accusation he stringently denies. "Anyone saying that has probably got it wrong," he said. "I think the thing I have done well is bowl at tough times. I have no problem managing my own bowling. I'm happy to bowl after 10 overs if the situation so demands, just as I'm happy to bowl at the death."

New Zealand will play two Tests, a Twenty20 international and three one-dayers on their South Africa tour. Preceding those are two warm-ups against South Africa A, the first of which is at Potchefstroom on October 25.