Gillespie in for Black Caps

Mark Gillespie © Getty Images

Buy this photo

New Zealand have changed a winning line-up and introduced seamer Mark Gillespie into their side for the second Test against England.

Captain Daniel Vettori had hoped to continue his all-spin partnership with off-spinner Jeetan Patel for the Basin Reserve, but arrived in Wellington to discover a pitch that appeared more suited to seamers.

It has prompted New Zealand, who claimed a 189-run triumph in the first Test, to bring in Gillespie as Patel’s replacement as they attempt to claim the victory that would seal a shock series win.

“We’d have obviously liked to continue with the way things went in Hamilton, but groundsmen are their own entity and they have the prerogative to do what they want with their wickets,” admitted Vettori.

“That’s the nice thing about cricket. You can go around the world, you get different conditions and teams have to adapt to them and that’s what we have to do.

“We can’t just turn up and expect to have things favourable all the time. We want to make sure we can win in any condition that is put in front of us.”

Daniel Vettori expects England to be stronger at Wellington

Buy this photo

But however the wicket plays at the Basin Reserve, Vettori is expecting England to perform better than they did at Hamilton, when they were out-performed with bat and ball.

“I’m expecting them to come back very strongly,” he said. “They’re a resolute side and very well led and I know Michael will be asking a lot of them.

“There’s personal pride at stake as well. The guys will want to step up for themselves and put in performances that are worthy of their ability.”

And Vettori is determined to build on his side’s outstanding performance at Seddon Park by wrapping up the series in Wellington.

“Good teams are able to do that,” he added. “If you look, what Australia have done for a long, long time is that they’ve turned up in any conditions and produced a performance.

“I’m not saying we’re comparing ourselves with the Australians, but if we want to become a good side consistently then we have to turn up day-in and day-out and produce performances like we did in Hamilton.”