NZ win toss, elect to bat against Australia in CT

STAFF WRITER 17:40 HRS IST

Centurion, Oct 5 (PTI) New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat against Australia in the final of the Champions Trophy here today.

The Kiwis were dealt a big blow just before the match as skipper Daniel Vettori pulled out of the game due to a hamstring injury.

Vettori has been replaced by Jeetan Patel in the playing eleven and in his absence Brendon McCullum will lead the side.

Apart from Vettori, there are no other changes in the Kiwi squad, while Australia preferred to stick to the same playing eleven.

Squad:

Australia: Ricky Ponting (C), Shane Watson, Tim Paine, Mike Hussey, Cameron White, Callum Ferguson, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle.

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (C), Aaron Redmond, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Neil Broom, James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Ian Butler, Shane Bond, Jeetan Patel.