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Cricketers on their milestones

Lou Vincent

'I thought my first call-up was a prank'

Lou Vincent remembers the phone call that invited him to the New Zealand side

Interview by Jack Wilson

March 3, 2013

Comments: 5 | Text size: A | A

Lou Vincent winds up for a big shot, Auckland v Somerset, CLT20 qualifier, Hyderabad, September 20, 2011
Play it again, Lou © Associated Press
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Players/Officials: Lou Vincent
Teams: New Zealand

First bat I owned
I remember I had a Gunn and Moore really early on, after I'd just started school. I was probably about four years old at the time. I think I timed everything off it straightaway too... maybe.

First six
I was six and I was playing for my school in Takapuna, New Zealand. I swiped it over cow corner. It was nothing too glamorous but it went all the way.

First autograph
When I was young I watched a lot of cricket. I remember getting Chris Pringle's autograph in New Zealand pretty early on but the first one I actually got was that of Brian Lara. I was out in Adelaide watching the West Indies and he was playing for them then. It's not a bad first autograph to get.

First time I was called up to the national side
I got a call over the phone and I thought it was a prank at first. I didn't believe it was actually happening. It came pretty much out of the blue for me. I was playing okay at the time but my first reaction was that of shock. You couldn't see who the call was from either - we didn't have mobiles back in those days. I thought maybe one of my mates might be mucking about but fortunately it wasn't.

First time I got hit where it hurts
The first blow that really hurt me was actually one to my chin when I was 18. People say it's massive anyway, so I suppose it won't surprise that many people. It was a bouncer from Paul Franks, who's now at Nottinghamshire, and I just couldn't get out the way of it. It caused me a bit of pain for a few days after that.

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

Posted by Cricket_Man on (March 4, 2013, 13:37 GMT)

The interview was short and sweet. Lou Vincent is one of my favourite Kiwi batsmen. He is an excellent timer of the ball and a really good fielder. I think he could've played more for New Zealand, especially after the advent of T20 cricket.

Posted by M.Naseer.Awan on (March 4, 2013, 7:23 GMT)

He was a aggressive and attacking player.. i rememberd his excellent performance in world series against Aus and SA in 2003/2004.when New Zealand won that series...

Posted by   on (March 3, 2013, 15:57 GMT)

he's a very good batsman, specially his short arm charge over cover and slog over long on are fancy shots

Posted by enigma77543 on (March 3, 2013, 12:17 GMT)

One of the most crisp timers the sport has ever seen; wish he had done justice to his extra-ordinary talent.

Posted by   on (March 3, 2013, 11:19 GMT)

Always loved Vincent, he will always be one of the great what ifs. Like so many other great cricketers he has fought his own personal battles, but I for one always loved him, and was always excited to see him take the field because on his day he was one of those guys who could take the game away from a team.

He is another of the New Zealand players where you just wish he had more time in the team, he really was exciting to watch at the top of the order.

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