Daniel Vettori believes New Zealand have unearthed a potent new-ball pairing in Chris Martin and Kyle Mills.
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Daniel Vettori believes New Zealand have unearthed a potent new-ball pairing in Chris Martin and Kyle Mills.
Mills and Martin shared 11 wickets during the 189-run first Test victory over England to ensure Shane Bond was not missed.
Bond, the quickest bowler in New Zealand, was released from his central contract and told he would not be selected again after signing up for the unsanctioned ICL Twenty20 league prior to the start of the series.
Vettori was delighted that unheralded duo Martin and Mills stepped up when it mattered.
"Kyle has played a lot of one-day cricket and Chris has played a lot of Test cricket and now they're coming together to form a really nice partnership," said Vettori.
"The key to it is that they swing the ball different ways and therefore when you've got two guys going like that at the top of your bowling order it offers you some nice options.
"They are both at the top of their game, bowling well and enjoying their cricket and they seem to be in good health.
"We've had a few injury concerns with Kyle over the years but both of them are pretty strong and enjoying the fact they are the two most senior fast bowlers and relishing the role."
Wind factor
New Zealand are aiming to secure the three-match series with victory in the second Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, which starts on Thursday.
Vettori explained that an ever-present swirling crosswind at the ground makes it a unique venue.
"This is really the only ground in world cricket that I've played at that is as difficult as this for the wind," he said.
"It's not because it's so hard, it's because it's so inconsistent and it can blow you off your mark and gust the whole time.
"You really need to get a feel for it and the guys who have done it a lot you do tend to see them stand out.
"Guys like myself, Iain O'Brien and Jacob Oram have done it a lot and whoever does it for England, it's probably going to be their first time and it can be quite disrupting through a Test match."
New Zealand played Jeetan Patel as a second spinner alongside Vettori in the first Test but may be forced to rejig their attack in Wellington to include a third specialist seamer. Mark Gillespie is the obvious candidate to replace Patel should the hosts opt to go down that route.
Struggling batsman Matthew Sinclair is likely to be given another opportunity at number four despite failing twice in the first Test. Uncapped all-rounder Grant Elliot again looks set to carry the drinks.
