HAMILTON, New Zealand (Reuters) – New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has undergone blood tests to determine a mystery illness making him lethargic and feel “fluey”, team manager Dave Currie said yesterday.
Vettori’s normal energetic fielding was greatly subdued on the second day of the first test against Pakistan in Hamilton and he left the field for 20 minutes late on as the visitors advanced to 235 for four, 40 runs behind New Zealand’s first innings of 275 all out.
The 31-year-old left-arm spinner still managed to bowl 22 overs and concede just 29 runs.
Former New Zealand selector Dion Nash said on the radio commentary during the day he had been told that one of the blood tests was for malaria, though Currie rejected the theory.
“I don’t know where he (Nash) got that speculation from,” Currie told reporters. “He has been in India so I guess they test for everything but there has no been speculation (as to the cause).
“Clearly he is not a million dollars, you can see that.
“He is well enough that he has played (but) the health team are not sure what the problem is.
“He’s had some blood tests and we’ll have the results in the next couple of days and see what happens.”
New Zealand pace bowler Brent Arnel, who took two wickets yesterday, said the fact Vettori was even playing was a testament to his mental and physical toughness.
“He’s a very tough guy and is showing his passion by being out there,” Arnel said. “Maybe a lot of other guys would be back in the hotel room sleeping it off.
“He’s just such a courageous leader and it’s great to see him out there and fighting it.
“We know he’s not too well and to see him bowling like that is magnificent. Again, he’s unlucky because he could have had a couple of wickets.”
