Pitches killing NZ spinners

New Zealand spin bowler Daniel Vettori has said that the future looks bleak for spinners in the country as a result of the pitches that are being prepared.

Vettori, who bowled only two overs in the match in New Zealand’s victory over Sri Lanka in last week’s first Test in Christchurch, says that the grassy, seaming wickets being prepared in New Zealand at the moment heavily favour pace bowling and as a result spinners are left without much of a role to play.

The New Zealand vice-captain suggests that while it won’t be much of a disadvantage to the team at home, New Zealand will struggle to win abroad if they lack a quality spin bowler.

Although disappointed at not getting much of a bowl in the first Test, Vettori is still eagerly looking forward to tomorrow’s second and final Test in Wellington. The pitch looks a lot harder than is usual for the Basin Reserve so there may be some turn in it for he and Muttiah Muralitharan in the latter stages of the match.