Canberra (Reuters)
New Zealand manager Jeff Crowe laughed off suggestions on Tuesday that the Kiwis had a weak bowling attack for their three-Test tour of Australia. The tourists will be without injured left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori for at least the first two Tests of the series, which starts at Brisbane on November 8.

Crowe said he was hopeful that Vettori, 22, who has taken 106 wickets at an average of 32.62 in 31 Tests, would return for the third match at Perth, which starts on November 30.

Crowe said Vettori, who injured his ankle when fielding off his own bowling against an Australian Capital Territory Invitational XI on Sunday, would be sent home on Thursday for treatment on torn ankle ligaments.

The Australian newspaper headlined a back-page story on Tuesday: "Vettori's exit reduces NZ to popgun attack."

"We don't read the media," Crowe said. "The fact is we just get on and do our job."

Opener Matthew Bell (107 retired) and Mathew Sinclair (145) did just that for New Zealand on Tuesday, sharing a second-wicket partnership of 202. New Zealand declared at 340 for 4 after the Invitiational XI had made 439 for 6 declared and finished on 39 for 0 in their second innings at Manuka Oval.

Jack Smith (156) and Grant Lambert (101) made centuries in the first innings against the New Zealand attack, which must find some form ahead of next month's Test series against the world's top team.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said after the game that the bowling of allrounder Chris Cairns, who completed match figures of 1 for 130 from 29 overs, could be better assessed on a Test-standard pitch. Cairns was making his comeback from knee surgery.

"We're simmering away quite nicely," Fleming said. "We arrived on these shores with quite a bit of work to do. We're getting through that work."

New Zealand's third tour match is a three-day game against a Queensland President's XI at Allan Border Field in Brisbane starting on October 26.

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