Vettori undergoes Achilles surgery to prolong Black Caps career

New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori has undergone an operation on his left Achilles tendon in a bid to prolong his career, according to team management sources.

Although the former Black Caps skipper returned from nearly a year out of international action to play in all three of New Zealand's ICC Champions Trophy group matches before the team bowed out ahead of the knockout stages, he often looked in pain while fielding and batted just the once for which the operation has been deemed necessary, Sport24 reports.

According to New Zealand team physiotherapist Paul Close, Vettori's operation in London on Wednesday had gone well, adding that surgery was the only option to prolong his career as he had been suffering from the injury for the past year.

Injuries also sidelined all-rounder Grant Elliott and seamer Tim Southee from next week's two Twenty20 matches against England at The Oval, while batsman Kane Williamson and wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi have also left the squad.

New Zealand, beaten 2-0 by England in a Test series this season but 2-1 winners in a subsequent one-day international campaign, will prepare for the Twenty20 fixtures with a warm-up game against Kent in Canterbury on Saturday, the report added.