| INJURY SIDELINES VETTORI FOR OPENING TWO TESTS
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New Zealand's prospects of success in the forthcoming cricket tests in Australia dipped yesterday when key bowler Daniel Vettori was forced out of the first two internationals because of a torn ankle ligament.
The left-arm spinner suffered the injury when he fielded a ball off his bowling in New Zealand's warmup game on Sunday against the Australian Capital Territory President's XI in Canberra.
Vettori twisted his right ankle and an MRI scan yesterday revealed a slight tear in the ligament across the front of his ankle. He will miss the first test in Brisbane, from November 8, and the second in Hobart, from November 22. Instead, Vettori will return home for treatment in Christchurch.
Recovery has been set at four to five weeks and it is hoped he will be available for the third test in Perth, starting on November 30.
New Zealand manager Jeff Crowe expected a tour replacement to be named today and to arrive in Brisbane tomorrow, about the same time that Vettori was due to leave the team.
Spinners Paul Wiseman and Brooke Walker were on standby as replacements.
Vettori was seen as vital to New Zealand's chances of upsetting Australia.
Without him the Black Caps will be relying on their seam bowlers, and the two most experienced, Chris Cairns and Dion Nash, are still working their way back to full fitness.
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