New Zealand's selectors are worried about risking key bowler Daniel Vettori for the make-or-break second Test against England which starts here on Thursday. Vettori will undergo a fitness examination in the nets at training on Tuesday. Denis Aberhart, New Zealand's coach, said the selectors were most likely to take a cautious approach with Vettori, who wants to play in the Test despite back problems. Experienced allrounder Chris Harris was called into the squad on Sunday, and will play if Vettori is ruled out. The final call will rest with the selectors after the net session.

"We'll have a serious look at him tomorrow," said Aberhart, "but we've got to balance our decision with the fact it's a long season and there's a lot of cricket ahead. He's only 23 and he has a long career ahead of him."

New Zealand tour Pakistan next month and the West Indies soon afterwards, before the International Cricket Council Trophy one-day tournament and a home series against India, followed by the World Cup early next year in South Africa.

Vettori did not take a wicket on an unresponsive pitch in the 98-run loss to England in Christchurch. He bowled in the nets on Sunday, and NZ's physiotherapist Dayle Shackel said it was encouraging. "He shaped up really well yesterday so he's keen to have another bowl, have a field and then make a decision as to his level of comfort," said Shackel. "He's been sore for a while, but it flared up more through diving in the field than bowling."

If there is more pain after Tuesday's session, Vettori will have another scan to see whether the injury is muscular or a more serious problem in the bone. Vettori's back injury first surfaced two years ago against Australia when he was just 21, and the latest flare-up is a big concern after he came through the pre-Christmas Test series in Australia without incident. Harris was selected to provide batting strength at number seven in the absence of the injured Chris Cairns and bowl his nearly-slow seamers if Vettori is ruled out.

Pacemen Chris Martin and Daryl Tuffey are likely to vie for the 12th-man duties. Martin's own back injury is on the mend and he is likely to be considered.

"The specialist spin bowlers have had opportunities to put their hands up in domestic cricket, but no-one's really done that," said Aberhart. "The Basin [Wellington] might seam, so there are opportunities for the quicker bowlers."

The most pressing concern is whether Ian Butler and Chris Drum, with back-up from either Martin or Tuffey, can knock over an in-form England batting side twice to square the series.

Young Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell is expected to arrive here on Tuesday as cover for Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain.

Butcher has been ruled out of the Wellington Test after he cracked a bone in his right hand during the first Test. Hussain hopes to play despite jarring the middle finger of his right hand attempting to take a catch.

Bell, who has played only 13 first-class matches, made a big impression here as a 16-year-old when he dominated an under-19 Test series. "I'm surprised and delighted to have this opportunity," Bell said before leaving to join the team. "I don't know how much cricket I will play out in New Zealand, but just mingling with the senior England players will be an important learning experience for me."

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