Dhoni says spinners will play major role in World Cup

By John Mehaffey

LONDON (Reuters) - India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni predicted on Sunday spinners would play a significant role in the Twenty20 World Cup opening at Lord's this week.

Slow bowling has proved surprisingly successful in Twenty20 competitions throughout the world, including the two seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Dhoni, whose team defend the trophy they won at the inaugural World Cup in South Africa two years ago, said he believed ground staff would prepare pitches in favour of the batsmen.

"The organisers want really exciting cricket," Dhoni told a captains' news conference at Lord's. "I think there will be flat tracks and spinners will play an important role."

England play the Netherlands in Friday's opening match (1630 GMT) while India opening their campaign against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on the following day (1700).

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, whose left-arm orthodox spin is key to his team's hopes in any form of cricket, said he believed spinners had adapted quickly to the requirements of the Twenty20 game.

"In Twenty20, you are not going to second-guess yourself," he said. "The batsman is going to attack you, most spin bowlers realise that, and if they attack too much you create chances and you find even part-time spinners in the IPL being highly successful."

Dhoni rejected suggestions that the Indian team would be tired and find it difficult to concentrate after a packed IPL season.