ND eye benefits in Vettori loan to Queensland

Northern Districts chief executive David Cooper believes Daniel Vettori's "loan" to Queensland "could be a catalyst that works out well for ND".

The Black Caps skipper will be a loan player for the Queensland Bulls in the Australian Twenty20 Big Bash competition next month. He will play on January 13 against New South Wales and is also available for the preliminary final six days later, should Queensland finish second or third.

Vettori won't miss any matches for the Northern Knights during the domestic HRV Cup Twenty20 competition.

"He plays in Invercargill with us on the 12th and then the team flies to Mount Maunganui for a game on the 15th," Cooper said.

"Dan will fly from Auckland to Sydney on the 13th, play that evening for Queensland against New South Wales and catch the plane back to get to the Mount the next morning. The final is on the 19th, which is when we're in the middle of five days off from playing."

Cooper said there may be long-term benefits from the deal through the association with Queensland.

"It's provided an opportunity for Dan and for Queensland and for us.

"There's the possibility of building a relationship with Queensland. Grant Bradburn (Knights coach) spent time last year at the Allan Border Oval, the base for the Queensland Academy in Brisbane, and a Queensland-employed coach was down in Palmerston North yesterday with us observing at the game against CD."

Queensland coach Trevor Barsby is excited at the prospect of working alongside the New Zealand all-rounder.

"We all know his bowling is world-class but every bit of feedback we have received about him highlights that he is a fine leader of men who has a fantastic cricket brain and a calm and professional on-field presence," Barsby said.

"It might only be a short stint but we are confident there will be long-term benefits from him being a part of our squad during the Big Bash."

If the Bulls finish in the top two of the Australian Twenty20 competition, Vettori would be eligible to represent them in the Champions League tournament in India next year. He also has a chance to do the same with his Indian IPL side Delhi Daredevils and the Knights, should ND win the New Zealand domestic competition.

However, Cooper said there was no doubt who he would represent should ND make the Champions League.

"They'd have to pay us a transfer fee that's quite considerable," Cooper said. "But we're not going to release Daniel for any fee – there's no dollar amount that would mean he wouldn't play for the Northern Knights."

Vettori is resting following an arduous international schedule that has seen him battling an injured shoulder. He was unavailable for four domestic one-day matches with the Knights, but Cooper wasn't concerned over any possible criticism of their star turn's loyalties or workload.

"Dan and I were very conscious about that.

"He needed a break and we're looking forward to having him for the whole Twenty20 competition. He wouldn't have sacrificed missing a game for us."

-with NZPA

- © Fairfax NZ News