Daniel Vettori To Move Up His Batting Order to Number 6 to Fill Up The Gap Created by Retirement of Jacob Oram

CHRISTCHURCH: Daniel Vettori has said he is considering a move up the batting order to fill the No 6 vacancy left by Jacob Oram’s retirement from Tests. Vettori has usually batted at No 8 for New Zealand and in spite of the extra workload put on him as captain, strike bowler and crucial lower-order batsman, Vettori said he was not averse to slotting in two places higher.

In an injury-ravaged Test career that spanned seven years for just 33 appearances, Oram filled the No 6 all-rounder’s spot. Vettori, who averages 29.77 with the bat, is the most viable option for New Zealand to replace Oram. “I think it is something we’ll have to have a look at. It’s not something I’m averse to,” Vettori told Radio Sport. “I’ve stepped up in the one-dayers in terms of moving up the order and maybe now is the right time to do that (in Tests) as well.

“We’ve been talking about the workload on Jacob and I suppose the workload on me will only increase but maybe it’s the right thing to do and maybe it’s the opportunity for me to step up and actually fulfill that role.”

New Zealand will host Pakistan at home for a Test series next month. Before that they will play one-dayers and Twenty20 in the UAE, the squads for which will be named on Thursday (today).