England v New Zealand: Daniel Vettori out of Headingley Test

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Daniel Vettori

Daniel Vettori's Test future is in doubt after the spinner was ruled out of New Zealand's second match of the series against England at Headingley.

The ex-captain, 34, has struggled with Achilles problems and has not played in the long form of the game since July.

Of Vettori's attempt to be fit in time for the Leeds Test, which starts on Friday, skipper Brendon McCullum said: "It was just a bridge too far."

Black Caps wicketkeeper BJ Watling is ruled out with a knee injury.

Watling, 27, injured his knee during New Zealand's 170-run first Test defeat at Lord's.

Veteran Vettori had been brought into the squad as a late replacement for fellow spinner Bruce Martin, whose calf injury prevented him from bowling during England's second innings at Lord's.

With 360 victims, Vettori is his country's second-highest Test wicket-taker and the most successful left-arm spinner in history.

But, having only trained with the squad for two days, McCullum was not satisfied that Vettori could withstand the physical rigours of a five-day match.

And he acknowledged that Vettori's 16-year Test career may be coming to an end.

"Dan is out of the game, unfortunately," McCullum said. "We gave it our best shot with him but he didn't scrub up that well today and didn't have the confidence to go into a five-day game," said McCullum.

"It would be silly for us to sweep away 112 Test matches, nearly 400 wickets and six Test centuries. But it is something we're going to have to discuss down the track.

"It's going to be a rolling decision, a rolling conversation that we need to have with Dan as to what he needs to prioritise in his career.

"It would be nice to think that he'd be able to play every game in all three forms but it's not realistic. But I certainly see a place for him in the team."

Martin Guptill will replace Watling and bat at number six, with McCullum taking over as wicketkeeper, a role he has not played in a full Test since 2010.

"I didn't need convincing because it was the right thing to do for the team," McCullum said.

"But it's definitely not a long-term thing. As I said previously, my body can't hold up to the demands of keeping long-term in Test cricket."

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