Playing 100 Tests a great honour - Vettori

The first Test against India will be Daniel Vettori's 100th for New Zealand, making him only the second cricketer from the country, since Stephen Fleming, to reach the milestone. Vettori said it was a landmark that meant a lot to him.

"It's a great honour for me and something I would really cherish all my life. It's been an amazing journey," said Vettori, who in addition to his New Zealand appearances, also turned out for the World XI, against Australia in 2005. "For anyone to have such longevity is a great achievement. The fact that I have played well most all the time and that it is not just a number, gives me great satisfaction."

Vettori's coach Mark Greatbatch termed it a "phenomenal achievement". "Dan is very humble and very hard working, and 100 Tests for New Zealand is a testament to his skills and his longevity."

Vettori said the occasion, momentous as it may be, won't disturb his focus once the Test starts. "I have got all the celebrations out of the way in Hamilton; I am just trying to focus on the game. I am trying to see it as just another Test."

It won't be just another Test of course. If he hits 38 runs at Motera he will become only the third allrounder in Test history to have 4000 runs and 300 Test wickets, behind Kapil Dev and Ian Botham. It's that big.

"I suppose with how my game has developed over the last few years, I have worked on my skills, 4000 runs and 400 wickets is what I really aspire to achieve and that's not too far away," he said. Vettori is currently on 325 wickets and said that he is under no illusions about who has been New Zealand's all-time best bowler. "But if I do get there [431 wickets], I would still see Sir Richard Hadlee as our greatest bowler ever. His record is amazing. Mine will be a career of longevity, while his was one of absolute skill. He is one of the greatest bowlers of all time."

Stats reveal that Vettori has been a better bowler in ODIs, and he agreed. "My batting in both forms of the game has come on, as has my one-day bowling. But Test match bowling is something I want to get better at.

"There are a number of goals that I want to achieve and that is primary among them. At times, I have been a successful Test bowler, but that is a part of my game I want to improve."

Vettori took over the captaincy from Fleming after the 2007 World Cup and is currently going through his toughest time as a leader. New Zealand were drubbed 4-0 by Bangladesh in the recently-concluded one-day series and faced severe criticism back home.

"It was hard, but the criticism you have within your own thoughts is worse than anything anyone could say," Vettori said. "What I have put myself through and what all the rest of the team has put itself through couldn't compare with what anyone else could say. We expected the criticism, and it was all fair. When you lose 4-0, no matter to whom, you should expect a lot of criticism. Hopefully, it can be a catalyst for us in improving in all facets of our game."

Vettori is the only member in this squad who has played Tests in India and he said that though he will have a big role to play, he anticipates a major effort from the fast bowlers. "I suppose the responsibility primarily lies with me as the most experienced bowler over here, but I know, looking at the statistics, that seam bowlers can do a pretty good job particularly if you can get the ball reversing. So we are going to place a lot of onus on them bowling well and not just saying it's up to the spinners to do the job."