Vettori will return before Champions Trophy

Daniel Vettori is expected to be fit for the ICC Champions Trophy in October this year according to New Zealand cricket.

Vettori pulled out of a contract with Warwickshire due to a stress fracture in his lower back and will not be able to bowl for 12 weeks. But he should be back in action a month before their first Champions Trophy game against South Africa on 16 October.

"Our medical people think he should be right well before that starts," team manager Lindsay Crocker commented. Vettori has struggled with injuries to his back before; he returned from a tour to Zimbabwe in 2000 because of a stress fracture and he experienced further back trouble last year, forcing him to miss one-day games against a World XI and Sri Lanka.

Crocker also defended New Zealand's policy of allowing players to play in England during their off season. Stephen Fleming, Hamish Marshall, James Franklin and Scott Styris are currently playing for various counties. Nathan Astle is about to join Lancashire as a replacement for Australia's Brad Hodge.

Paceman Shane Bond missed out on the chance to join Marshall at Gloucestershire after suffering a knee injury during New Zealand's tour to South Africa recently. "Our guys are available this year and next because of our international playing schedule and it's a good little earner. In Dan's case, John Bracewell (New Zealand coach) was keen for him to get a bit of bowling under his belt because he had not done a lot by his standards last summer," Crocker told the Dominion Post.