McCullum Hopes Vettori Gets Fit For 1st Test

Dubai: New Zealand's stand-in captain Brendon McCullum hoped Daniel Vettori regains full fitness to lead the team in the first Test against Pakistan starting later this month.

"I hope Daniel gets fit to lead the team in the Tests," McCullum said of the regular captain who missed team's two Twenty20 matches which finished in Pakistan's 2-0 win on Friday.

Vettori felt concussion after being hit on the grille of his helmet during the third One-day match at Abu Dhabi last week. He vomited before CT scans revealed no injury, but doctors advised him two-weeks rest.

That put Vettori in doubt for the first Test against Pakistan starting at Dunedin from November 25.

McCullum reckoned both teams were evenly balanced.

"I think both the teams are pretty similar, evenly matched but we have to put up collective effort to combat their spinners, who are quality bowlers," said McCullum of Pakistani spinners Danish Kaneria and Saeed Ajmal.

"Pakistan has been a dangerous side for a number of years and we have to be at our best to beat them. Pakistan, at times, can do amazing things in batting, bowling and fielding."

New Zealand had to tour Pakistan for three One-day, two Twenty20 and three Test matches but the limited over series was shifted to United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Tests to New Zealand over security fears in Pakistan.

Both team fly out to New Zealand on November 15.

Scores	Upcoming	Results
South Africa vs Pakistan - 3rd ODI 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 1st Test - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan - December 26-30, 07:30 GMT 3rd ODI - Zimbabwe v Afghanistan at Harare Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs

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