New Zealand's Vettori retires from Test Cricket
by A.C. De Silva
New Zealand's long-serving cricketer Daniel Vettori called time on
his international career early this month, saying that the World Cup
final against Australia was his last appearance for the 'Black Caps'.
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Colour New Zealand player Daniel Vettori (centre) gives a
hug to team captain Brendon Mccullum (L) as Kane Williamson
looks on after their defeat against Australia in the 2015
Cricket World Cup final in Melbourne on March 29, 2015.
Vettori announced on March 31th, 2015 an end to his
International Career. |
"It was my last game for New Zealand and so it was a lovely way to
finish," the former Captain told reporters as the team returned from
Sunday's final to a right-royal welcome despite being beaten by seven
wickets by Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
He said it would have been great to win, but Vettori said that he was
proud of everyone and the way they have gone about doing things in the
last six weeks.
Vettori 15 wkts in World Cup
New Zealand Cricket added that Vettori announced he had played his
last game for the Kiwis.
The left-arm spinner, currently ranked as the 12th best ODI bowler in
the world, took 15 wickets in the world Cup, the 8th best performance,
including 4 for 18 against Afghanistan. The 36-year-old's announcement
was no real surprise after an 18-year international career.
Vettori played his first Test as an 18-year-old against England in
February 1997 and became his country's most capped Test Player.
He went on to feature in 113 Tests, taking 362 wickets at an average
of 34.36 while scoring 4,531 runs including six centuries. Alongside
India's Kapil Dev and England's Ian Botham, he is the only player to
have taken more than 300 Test-wickets and scored more than 4,000 runs.
ODI career Vettori 305 wickets
In his ODI career, Vettori played 295 matches, taking 305 wickets at
31.71 and scoring 2,253 runs.
New Zealand Captain Brendon McCullum revealed that Vettori pulled a
calf muscle when exercising between innings in the World Cup final but
still managed to send down five overs taking non for 25.
Fellow Zealander Kane Williamson said Vettori would be missed. "Just
his experience in the group - he's such a leader - and to play for such
a long-time and with so many different players is an amazing thing," he
said. "He's had a fantastic career. He's great bloke and he'll certainly
be missed."
Sangakkara praises Vettori
Vettori was a popular player and the cricketing world was also quick
to pay tribute, with Sri Lankan batting star Kumar Sangakkara tweeting:
"Thanks Daniel great pleasure playing with you mate."
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