NZ's Vettori unlikely for Indian Tests

6 Aug 2012, 11:30 am   -   Source: AAP
New Zealand will likely be without spinner Daniel Vettori for their two-Test series against India. (AAP)

New Zealand will likely be without spinner Daniel Vettori for their two-Test series against India. (AAP)

The Blacks Caps will almost certainly be without spinner Daniel Vettori when their two-Test series against India begins in Hyderabad later this month.

New Zealand captain Ross Taylor says spinner Daniel Vettori is unlikely to recover from injury in time for the Black Caps' upcoming two-Test series in India.

Vettori picked up a groin injury in New Zealand's nine-wicket loss to the West Indies in the first Test and missed the second Test.

The Windies cruised to a five-wicket win over the Black Caps early on the fourth day at Sabina Park in Kingston on Monday (AEST) for their first Test series win over New Zealand in 16 years.

Taylor says there's little chance Vettori will be fit in time for the first Test against India beginning in Hyderabad on August 23.

"It's not looking likely at this stage ... there's a 90 per cent chance he won't be there," he said.

New Zealand's tour of the West Indies has disappointed, with the team losing two Twenty20 matches, four of five ODIs and both Tests.

Taylor admits that while New Zealand's batting overall against the West Indies was uninspiring, Martin Guptill's effort as top run-scorer in the series was worthy of note.

"It's not all doom and gloom," he said.

"But with the batting, we're probably looking to the technical side a bit too much. Batting, and cricket in general, is a big mental game - we need to address the mental side of the game a bit more, and apply ourselves and set ourselves to bat long periods of time."

Taylor expects India's wickets to test the Black Caps, particular against quality spinners such as Ravi Ashwin and Naman Ojha.

"India isn't an easy place to tour, but over half the guys have been there before and had Test experience, and there's a lot of players who've played IPL."

The Black Caps go into the Indian series under a new coach in Mike Hesson, incumbent John Wright's tenure ending at the end of the Windies series.

"Wrighty's been a good servant for New Zealand cricket, and it's a bit disappointing to send him off on that note," Taylor said.

"But people did learn a lot - we might not have put it into performances but I'm sure, over the next little while, that a lot of what John Wright has done for the team will come through."

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