Despite injuring his finger in a tour match against Essex, New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori has disclosed that he will be ready for the opening Test against England from March 15 at Lord’s.

"I'm confident of being ready for the first Test," Vettori was quoted as saying to the Dominion Post.

"I've never seen it happen to anyone else in cricket - and the number of times guys catch cricket balls, it's amazing. But I'll just get on with it as best as I can," Vettori, who needed
two stitches on his spinning finger after taking a return throw from Brendon McCullum in the first innings against Essex, where he sent down 11 overs and had 1 for 23, said..

"Things started well for me when I bowled," Vettori told the Times, "and coupled with three more bats that would have been ideal preparation."