Vettori guile key for Kiwis

Daniel Vettori led New Zealand to victory over Bangladesh in the recent ODIs © Getty Images

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Daniel Vettori’s skill and intelligence present a major challenge for England as they attempt to build on their recent resurgence in one-day form on their tour of New Zealand.

The newly-installed captain of the hosts’ Test and one-day side, who tunred 29 on Sunday, may not outwardly possess the look of a highly competitive international cricketer, but England are unlikely to underestimate him.

He is currently rated as the third-best one-day bowler in the world and has consistently thrived against sides who have failed to fully appreciate his capabilities.

The youngest player to represent New Zealand at Test level - he made his debut against England aged 18 in 1997 - Vettori is also one of only two players to have claimed 200 wickets at Test and one-day international level for his country, alongside Chris Cairns.

Beyond his obvious talents as a left-arm spinner, he also has a shrewd cricket brain as he showed in helping New Zealand reach the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa last year.

Despite the format of the tournament being weighed heavily in the batsman’s favour, Vettori finished as the fifth highest wicket-taker with 11 victims and had the best economy rate, 5.33.

Vettori has shown great skill since taking over from Stephen Fleming © Getty Images

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In addition, he demonstrated a shrewd understanding of the requirements of captaincy during that tournament having just been appointed as the successor to the highly-respected Stephen Fleming after his 10-year reign.

Results have since reversed with New Zealand winning only one of six one-day international matches in South Africa and Australia this winter, although they have recently claimed a 3-0 series whitewash over Bangladesh on home soil.

Vettori, though, has enjoyed the challenge of contributing with bat and ball and leading the side, stressing: “Obviously it’s been pretty tough, purely from results.

“But I’ve enjoyed the role on the field, being able to take over and run things the way I’ve wanted to along with the other guys in the team.”

He has, however, admitted the role is far more demanding than he expected.

“You don’t realise how much you live and die by what the team is doing when you take over the role full-time,” he said.

“You’re always thinking about ways to make the team better, make yourself better - that never leaves you until you go to sleep at night.

“I know we haven’t had too many wins, but when they do come along it’s one of the better feelings you can have in cricket.”

For all New Zealand’s recent dominance over England - they beat them in both the recent World Cup in West Indies and the World Twenty20 - Vettori is expecting a tough one-day series, comprising two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day internationals.

“England are a very good batting side,” he added. “I think they have five guys in their top six who average over 40 and whenever you come up against a line-up like that you know it’s going to be tough. They’re a good team who are going to be very hard to beat.”