Vettori 'a veteran among the greats'

Huw Richards, writing in the International Herald Tribune, pays tribute to Daniel Vettori, who turns 30 tomorrow, for being one of the greatest servants of New Zealand cricket, and for the way he's led his team by example in times of declining fortunes.

Vettori epitomizes that aptitude for maximizing talent. It was evident when he played his first five-day test for New Zealand in February 1997, only a few days after his 18th birthday - becoming his country's youngest player in its 82 years as a test-playing nation - that he was a spin bowler of authentic quality.

The arts that have served him throughout the ensuing 12 years were already evident. He was a left-hander who bowled with great control and a range of subtle variation in flight, line and pace. That control and subtlety make him a tough bowler for batsmen to attack. They have also made him a master in the one-day game, where he is rated the best bowler in the world.

The most striking development in his game, though, has been his improvement as a batsman. He began as the last man in the order, but has worked his way up through a tough-minded application of his abilities.