On This Day | New Zealand’s star left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori was born today in 1979. Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori is celebrating his 45th birthday today. Vettori is one of the greatest cricketers New Zealand has ever produced. He was not just an influential player for the Kiwis but an effective captain as well. His all-round skills provided depth and balance to the New Zealand team.
Daniel Vettori made his debut in international cricket in 1997 when he got the opportunity to play his first Test match against England at Wellington. The talented all-rounder also made his One-Day debut a month later against Sri Lanka at Christchurch. His consistent performances with the ball and valuable batting cameos made him the primary all-round option for New Zealand in both Test and ODI cricket.
Evolution into a Leader
As Daniel Vettori progressed in his career he evolved as one of the prominent figures in the Kiwi leadership group. Gradually he stepped up and became the captain as well. Vettori had an 18-year-long career in international cricket and always remained a significant player for New Zealand.
The spin all-rounder played 113 Test matches for New Zealand picking up 362 wickets at an average of 34.36. Along with those wickets, he also made an impact with the bat and scored more than 4500 runs at an average of 30. In his Test career, he made 6 centuries along with 23 half-centuries which reflects his crucial role in the New Zealand batting order.
Not just in Test cricket but Daniel Vettori was a match-winner in ODI cricket as well. The former New Zealand captain represented his country in 295 One-Day internationals and 34 T20Is. He has 305 wickets to his name in 50-over cricket and 38 wickets in T20 cricket.
Daniel Vettori will always remain one of the most influential players in the history of New Zealand cricket and his role in making New Zealand a formidable force in international cricket is indisputable.