Dan Vettori’s Eden Park spell was a game changer. Coming on when Australia was off to a flyer, he was able to peg it all back and arguably get the BLACKCAPS back in the game. Vettori went for just thirteen runs from his first four overs, fifteen from the next five, and if it wasn’t for Brad Haddin taking 13 from his last, his final figures could have been even more impressive than 2-42.
According to Dan, he was just doing his job.
“My role is to be complimentary to our attacking bowlers, to do that with Trent and the way he bowled and the way he was able to take wickets, it was up to me tie up the other end. As a combination we were doing a really good job for the team. So that’s the most satisfying bit, understanding my role and being able to perform it.
“If I can be as economical as possible, that allows Tim, Trent, Adam Mitch, whoever plays to attack and get those wickets, that’s the way Brendon likes to captain. It’s hard to do it all the time, so if I can allow those other guys to attack, that’s really the role,” said Vettori.
After making a long-awaited return against South Africa back in October, Vettori has re-established himself as a fixture in the starting XI in ODIs, and even made a surprise comeback in white in the UAE for the last Test against Pakistan, to become New Zealand’s most ever Test capped player.
He’s on the verge of another milestone in black, sitting on 298 ODI wickets, two away from the 300 milestone. Not that he's too bothered.
“I spent a long time thinking about those Test records, and sometimes one day cricket was put a little bit in the background, and I’ve come into this tournament thinking a little bit that way as well. Because of how we’re progressing as a side and because it’s been going so well I haven’t really thought about it, but it would be a lovely thing to achieve,” said Vettori.
If Mike Hesson sticks with the same XI that’s performed so well thus far, he’ll get his next chance against Afghanistan in Napier on Sunday, not that he’s counting his chickens.
“I think Afghanistan have been quite impressive, they’ve got a balanced line up, and that’s what you look for with an associate side, what are they like as a whole XI, and their XI is really good, we know their front line bowling will be difficult and they’ve got some very good batters.
Even after so long in the international game, the support for the BLACKCAPS during this World Cup has been a standout for Vettori.
To play in front of that crowd in Wellington and hear the noise and hear the chanting during Tim’s spell, and then to follow it up with the crowd in Auckland and how the crowd was almost deafening there, it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in New Zealand stadiums, to live those two games was pretty special.
BLACKCAPS play Afghanistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at McLean Park, Napier on Sunday beginning at 2pm.
