World-class left-arm spin bowler Daniel Vettori is out of the first Test against Pakistan and probably out of the three-Test series.

Vettori, who played in the One-Day International series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, has not recovered sufficiently from the stress fracture he suffered in his back while playing against Australia last summer.

Cleared to play too soon he was invalided out of New Zealand's tour of Zimbabwe during the first Test and had not played until a few Shell Cup games before the one-day side was named to play Sri Lanka.

New Zealand selection chairman Sir Richard Hadlee said Vettori's absence meant the balance of the side New Zealand wanted to take into the Test had been thrown into disarray.

That is reflected in the naming of leg spinner Brooke Walker and Grant Bradburn to the squad to prepare for the Test while good bowling by Chris Drum in New Zealand A's victory over Pakistan today, and in the Shell Trophy season, has been rewarded by his being named as cover for fast-medium bowler Daryl Tuffey who has a hip flexor muscle strain.

Bradburn, who has not played Test cricket since the summer of 1992/93, was being rewarded with his call up for good form both as an off-spinner during the Shell Trophy season and for his batting form.

Hadlee said the selectors were not surprised by the word from New Zealand Cricket's medical panel.

Vettori completed the Pakistan series with some problems which at one stage suggested he would not play in the last game.

"While it is unfortunate for us, it is in his own interest, New Zealand cricket's interest but there is a longer term view involved," Hadlee said.

New Zealand Cricket's medical liaison officer Gilbert Enoka said Vettori had pain and discomfort after both of the last two ODIs and the symptoms indicated he was not ready to take on the extra work load.

"He hasn't been ruled out of the second and third Tests but it is unlikely he will play," Enoka said.

"The medical panel wants to manage a more incremental approach to increasing his workload."

Enoka said the symptoms did not suggest there had been a recurrence of the injury, rather the panel didn't want to expose Vettori to risks caused by the greater work load of longer matches.

Hadlee added that Glen Sulzberger, an off spinner used earlier in the year by the selectors and a member of the New Zealand A team today, had not been considered because he has an ankle injury.

A decision on whether Tuffey will play in the Test will be made on Wednesday. Hadlee said today that Tuffey had been progressing with his recovery from the problem.

The way in which the A team beat Pakistan had been pleasing from New Zealand's point of view.

While he wouldn't comment on the Pakistan play in the game, he said the As had done credit to themselves, to New Zealand Cricket and had done the Black Caps a favour by keeping the pressure on the tourists.

While they had injury problems, Hadlee said he was able to sympathise, and empathise, with the Pakistani situation.

It had been a very difficult eight months since taking on the role of selector but the performances against Pakistan showed New Zealand had retained its competitiveness, new players had been introduced and there had been some good individual performances produced.

"The base has been broadened.

"The bonus from it all has been the young players who have emerged.

"If that's the only thing to come out of this season then the selectors will be happy," he said.

Enoka commented that one of the items reviewed by the panel when New Zealand suffered a spate of injuries at the start of the summer was that they seemed to occur after the side had a long break from the game.

And that had been reflected in the way Pakistan's players have suffered so many injuries.

"They had a long break before coming here," he said.

© CricInfo