12:50pm Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Ian Oxborrow
ESSEX skipper Mark Pettini is excited at the prospect of playing alongside New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori — if the county can secure his services.
Talks have taken place between Essex and left-arm spinner Vettori, but his availability is known to be an issue because of an international triangular tournament and his family situation.
“Daniel’s missus is having a baby and is due in August, but if someone with his quality is 100 committed to coming to play for us it would be excellent,” Pettini told the Echo from Barbados, where Essex are on their pre-season tour.
“He is a brilliant bowler, and is the captain of his country which would help me as I am sure I could learn a lot from him.
“He is also a useful batsman and I played against him a couple of years ago in a tour match.”
Vettori has been earmarked as a replacement for Pakistani leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who is likely to be available for the first three months of the season before international duty curtails his county action.
This would leave Tim Phillips as Essex’s only frontline spinner, and although he is in the same mould as Vettori, Pettini said it is not a concern.
“Left-arm spinners tend to get me out so I am not really a fan!” he joked. “As bowlers there is no reason why you can’t have two of them as they can use the angles by bowling over and around the wicket.”
Meanwhile, Pettini has spoken of his surprise at Graham Napier’s ommission from England’s Twenty20 World Cup squad.
Essex team-mate Napier is currently part of Mumbai Indians’ squad at the Indian Premier League which started at the weekend.
Pettini said: “He was in the World Cup squad last year, but did not play and has not been included since then. I am surprised he is not in the 30-man Provisional Squad as he has been so influential in that form of the game.
“But at the same time, it means he will be available for Essex, so there is a flip side.”
Essex are close to confirming their Twenty20 overseas acquisition, with a number of names having been linked.
But rumours that Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh is the name being kept under wraps have been rubbished by the club.
>Essex begin their action on tour with a two-day match against Lancashire, starting tomorrow, at the Kensington Oval.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/trade_directory/