Daniel Vettori      

Daniel Vettori has been on the international scene so long it is sometimes hard to believe has only recently crossed into his thirties. The youngest man to play Test cricket for New Zealand, at the age of 18, he sits beside Richard Hadlee and Chris Cairns as New Zealanders to take 200 Test wickets and score 2000 runs. With time on his side, he could one day creep up towards Hadlee's 431 Test dismissals, but to do that Vettori would need to avoid the stress fractures in his back that troubled him earlier in his career. He also could not afford another form slump like the one he suffered in 2003-04. He returned to his best, though, and his mastery ...

Daniel Vettori has been on the international scene so long it is sometimes hard to believe has only recently crossed into his thirties. The youngest man to play Test cricket for New Zealand, at the age of 18, he sits beside Richard Hadlee and Chris Cairns as New Zealanders to take 200 Test wickets and score 2000 runs. With time on his side, he could one day creep up towards Hadlee's 431 Test dismissals, but to do that Vettori would need to avoid the stress fractures in his back that troubled him earlier in his career. He also could not afford another form slump like the one he suffered in 2003-04. He returned to his best, though, and his mastery of drift and subtle variations in flight, speed and length earned him a reputation as New Zealand's most dangerous player. It was that guile and ability to confuse the batsmen that sometimes turned what seemed like innocuous deliveries into unplayable hand-grenades by the time they reached the other end. He troubled Australia with 12 for 149 at Eden Park in March 2000, giving him his first ten-wicket Test. He continued to peak whenever he faced Australia and also feasted against Bangladesh in 2004, taking 20 for 224 in the two-match rout. He was recognised alongside Muttiah Muralitharan as one of the best spinners outside Australia for the Super Series in 2005-06, and was one of six players to represent the World XI in the Test and all three one-dayers. A handy lower-order batsman, he has two Test centuries, and his record as leader was superb whenever Stephen Fleming was unavailable. Fleming stepped down from the limited-overs captaincy after the World Cup and Vettori was installed as skipper for the Twenty20 World Championship. He was then appointed as New Zealand's long-term leader when took over from Fleming as the Test captain ahead of their two-Test tour of South Africa. However, retirements and the ICL saw New Zealand slip in the world rankings and Vettori was saddled with more responsibilities than he could have imagined. Positive results, especially in Tests, were hard to come by but it didn't affect Vettori's form and on many occasions his lower-order batting, at No. 8, has come to the rescue.
Brydon Coverdale January 2009

January 18-21, 1997
First sightings
• At the age of 17, makes his first-class debut for Northern Districts against the touring England side in Hamilton, and snares Nasser Hussain as his first wicket, caught at slip attempting a drive.
  
February 6-10, 1997
Test cricketer at 18
• Makes Test debut barely three weeks later against the same opposition. SDespite having passed his 18th birthday in the meantime, is still the youngest man to play Test cricket for New Zealand. Takes 2 for 98 and his first victim is, once again, Hussain.
  
March 25, 1997
Youngest in ODIs
• Becomes New Zealand's youngest ODI player when he lines up against Sri Lanka. Is only given two overs, which cost 21 runs.
  
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September 25-29, 1997
Dan the batsman
• With experts already impressed with his bowling, they now have reason to praise his batting. Scores a resilient 90 - his previous best first-class score 29 - at No. 9 in a Test against Zimbabwe.
  
October 29-November 2, 1999
Where are the wickets?
• Becomes the second New Zealander, after Stephen Boock, to concede 200 runs in a Test innings. As a Tendulkar-inspired India knock up 7 for 583, Vettori finishes with 4 for 200 from his 57 overs.
  
March 11-15, 2000
Lethal against old enemy
• Tears through Australia with 12 wickets in a losing Test side, and in the process becomes the youngest spinner to reach 100 Test wickets.
  
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September, 2000
Too much work?
• Heavy bowling load starts to take its toll, and he succumbs to stress fractures in his back that sideline him for several months.
  
December 19-23, 2003
Test centurion
• Scores his maiden Test century, an unbeaten 137 against Pakistan.
  
October, 2004
Back in form
• After a lean patch of form, returns to his dangerous self in a two-Test series against Bangladesh. Takes 20 wickets in the series at a cost of just 11.20 per victim.
  
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November 2, 2004
First-time captain
• Captains New Zealand for the first time in an ODI. They enjoy a comfortable 138-run win over Bangladesh.
  
February, 2005
Opening up in domestic cricket
• Used as an opener by Northern Districts in limited-overs cricket, rewards them with two consecutive centuries. The first is a hefty 109 in a big win over Auckland, but three days later crushes that record with 138 from 111 balls in a semi-final against Canterbury.
  
March, 2005
Recognition at home
• Is named New Zealand's Player of the Year, just reward for a season that includes 42 Test wickets at 27 and 22 ODI victims at 20.
  
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August 7-8, 2005
Traps Heath Streak lbw in the Harare Test to become the third New Zealand bowler to reach 200 Test wickets, joining Chris Cairns and Richard Hadlee. Also has a match to remember for his blistering 82-ball century, the fastest by a New Zealander in Test cricket.
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October, 2005
One of the best
• Is recognised with a place in the World XI side for the Super Series against Australia, and is the only New Zealander in the squad. Troubles Australia with 4 for 33 in the first ODI, and is one of six World XI stars to play in all three limited-overs games and the Super Test.
  
December, 2005
Succession plan?
• As Stephen Fleming has a tumour removed, Vettori takes over the captaincy for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series, which New Zealand lose 2-1.
  
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March, 2006
New Zealand's best again
• For the second year running is named New Zealand's Player of the Year.
  
August, 2007
New format, new captain
• Is handed the captaincy for the ICC World Twenty20 after Fleming, who quit the ODI leadership following the World Cup, is not selected. New Zealand make it to the semi-final, losing to Pakistan.
  
November, 2007
Full-time captain
• Is named the leader of the side for a long term, starting with a two-Test series in South Africa, which New Zealand lose 2-0.
  
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August 23, 2009
Power? Responsibility? I'll take it
• Is appointed a national selector, with a formalised voting right in the selection committee. Says he is objective enough and equipped enough to do the job.
  
August 26, 2009
Excellent eight
• Gets Kumar Sangakkara caught at midwicket, in the SSC Test, to complete the double 300 Test wickets and 3000 runs. Only seven others have managed that.
  
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4 for 46 and 5 for 84 v Sri Lanka, Hamilton, 1996-97
• In his fourth Test, Vettori makes use of a sub-standard pitch to bowl New Zealand to a 120-run victory over Sri Lanka. It is a low-scoring match - the hosts make 222 and 273 - but Vettori's knowledge of his home ground gives New Zealand the edge. He warms up with four victims in the first innings and then in the second, as Sri Lanka chase an unlikely 326, he secures his first five-wicket haul in a Test. The 18-year-old Vettori is named Man of the Match.
  
5 for 62 and 7 for 87 v Australia, Auckland, 1999-2000
• Most bowlers would hope that match figures of 12 for 149 would be enough to set up a win. In Auckland, Vettori discovers that a Man-of-the-Match performance is a hollow reward when the team is defeated. Almost singlehandedly, Vettori gives the hosts a chance with a remarkable display that includes seven second-innings wickets. The target of 281 is too tall for his batting team-mates, however, as Colin Miller and Shane Warne also extract plenty of turn. Vettori's haul remains his best in a Test.
  
6 for 87 and 2 for 142 v Australia, Perth, 2001-02
• Another Man-of-the-Match effort for Vettori and another missed opportunity for New Zealand. After four New Zealanders pile on centuries Australia want to score just as voluminously. Vettori has other ideas and grabs six wickets including both Waughs, Adam Gilchrist, and famously Shane Warne for 99. The visitors have a 183-run lead and with the first two Tests of the three-match series drawn, they want a celebrated series win. But in the second innings the Australian wickets just don't tumble. Vettori claims 2 for 142, secures a run-out and thinks he has Steve Waugh caught behind for 13. The umpire disagrees, and the series is drawn 0-0.
  
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5 for 30 v West Indies, Lord's, 2004
• It is hardly a thrilling climax to the NatWest Series - Wisden describes it as "a one-sided final played out between showers made a fitting end to this unmemorable tournament". Vettori would remember the game, though, as it brought his best figures in a one-day international. He troubles the West Indies middle order with 5 for 30 and completes two run-outs as New Zealand triumphed.
  
2 for 26 and 6 for 28 v Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2004-05
• The competition might not have been the fiercest Vettori has faced, but a match haul of 8 for 54 is just what he needs. His previous nine Tests have brought only 16 wickets as he has struggled for impact against England, Pakistan, India and South Africa. He works hard in the first innings for little reward - 2 for 26 from 29 overs - but exploits the conditions beautifully in the second. His 6 for 28 is his first five-wicket haul in nearly three years, and New Zealand secure victory with five sessions remaining.
  
6 for 70 and 6 for 100 v Bangladesh, Chittagong, 2004-05
• As if to confirm that he really is back, Vettori follows the Dhaka Test with an even more productive outing in Chittagong. He goes for a few more runs but a 12-wicket haul - his second in Tests - seals the Man-of-the-Series title and tells the world Vettori is a threat once more. He finishes the tour with 20 victims at 11.20, the best figures recorded by a New Zealand bowler in a two-Test series.
  
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127, 2 for 1 and 4 for 28 v Zimbabwe, Harare, 2005-06
• About a year later Vettori continues his minnow-bashing in Harare, but this time he does most of his damage with the bat. His second Test century is the fastest ever by a New Zealander, coming from 82 balls. By the time he finally departs for 127, he has belted 20 fours and two sixes. It is all the more remarkable considering his lucky escape on 67 - he plays on to Heath Streak, but the bail bounces into the air and lands back on the stump at right angles, meaning technically it is not dislodged. For good measure, Vettori backs up with match figures of 6 for 29, although his victims were mostly tailenders.
  
4 for 33 v Australia, Melbourne, 2005-06
• As if Vettori has not endured enough occasions when New Zealand have lost despite his heroics, this time the same happens with the World XI. In the first Super Series ODI Vettori has the ball on a string, showing off his subtle variations in line, length, flight and turn. He grabs the key wickets of Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Shane Watson, and ensures the World XI chase a gettable 256. They are dismissed for 162.
  
5 for 59, 4 for 74, 55* and 76, Chittagong, 2008-09
• This is as much a man can make a Test his own. Vettori's five-for first limits Bangladesh to 245, but it's only thanks to an unbeaten 55 that New Zealand - 100 for 7 at one stage - trail by just 74. Vettori's four-for in the second innings means New Zealand are left to chase 317 to avoid a humiliating defeat, and the batsmen are still struggling. Vettori promotes himself to No. 4, taking all the pressure upon himself, scoring a gritty 76 at a strike-rate of 35 to set up a scrappy three-wicket win.
  
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