Vettori proves merit of flight and guile

Daniel Vettori goes into the World Twenty20 as T20's leading wicket-taker with 21 scalps in 14 games at an average of 16

Twenty20 is a batsman's game, so they say. With the hitters expected to score at least at a run a ball, what chance do the bowlers have?

New Zealand's limited-overs specialists would seem no exception to that. Their destructive strikers include Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder and Jacob Oram - all capable of battering opponents into submission.

Should the Black Caps surpass their 2007 World Twenty20 semi-final berth, one or more of the above will likely play a major role.

One name missing from that list of potential match-winners is familiar, yet he could easily be overlooked in Twenty20.

Captain Daniel Vettori, although useful with the bat, is unlikely to blast his side to victory.

To the delight of purists, it is with the ball that the left-arm spinner can turn a match, either with wickets or simply by denying the opposition runs.

The 30-year-old goes into the second edition of the World Twenty20 as the leading wicket-taker in the international format. His 21 scalps in 14 games have come at an average of 16.

It is this combination of potency and miserly economy that sets him apart. Of those who have played 10 or more Twenty20 internationals, only Pakistan seamer Umar Gul boasts a better economy.

At comfortably less than six an over, Vettori's contribution is regularly as valuable as a batsman with a three-figure strike rate.

In fact, he has only cost more than six an over in two T20 internationals, coincidentally the only occasions he has gone wicketless.

Surprisingly, the New Zealand selectors were slow to realise Vettori's potential in the shortest form of the game.

He did not make his debut until the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa, 18 months after the Black Caps' first taste of the short format.

Leading the side on a permanent basis for the first time, Vettori made an instant impression with a pair of wickets in each of their first two encounters.

Vettori snares Kevin Pietersen in New Zealand's 2007 World Twenty20 win against England when they reached the semis

But it was in inflicting eventual winners India's only defeat of the competition that the wily spinner announced himself on the T20 stage.

Vettori demolished their dangerous middle order with a career-best 4-20 to set up a 10-run triumph.

He was instrumental in the next match against England, removing Vikram Solanki and Kevin Pietersen when both were set, to aid a five-run win.

New Zealand met their match against the hosts and Pakistan, the latter in the semi-final, but Vettori was relatively inexpensive in each defeat.

Since that competition the Black Caps have struggled in Twenty20 cricket. Their only one-off or series win since came at home to India in February.

During these difficult times Vettori has remained consistent with ball in hand. Five wickets in the 1-1 draw against the touring West Indies in December were his best performances since 2007.

As a Twenty20 batsman, Vettori is yet to reproduce his one-day international and Test reliability.

Seventeen not out remains the left-hander's highest, although it proved to be the difference against England in 2007. However, in a format where strike rates are viewed by many as more important than averages, he has scored his 56 career runs at better than one a ball.

Shrewd captaincy is undoubtedly the other string to Vettori's bow. Taking over from perhaps the Black Caps' greatest skipper, Stephen Fleming, was no easy task.

New Zealand have struggled in Tests with Vettori at the helm, but they continue to punch above their weight in limited-overs internationals.

Having reached the 2007 World Cup semi-finals under Fleming, Vettori immediately guided them to the World Twenty20 semis later that year.

Despite their indifferent interim form in Twenty20, it would take a brave individual to bet against Vettori repeating the feat this year.