Daniel Vettori Unplugged

interview by MICHELLE McDONALD

Daniel Vettori's New Zealand team have marched through the 2007 Cricket World Cup with few obstacles.

Currently ranked third in the LG ODI team rankings, they have lived up to expectations. Two days before what has been dubbed 'the final before the final' with Australia as their opponents, the left arm bespectacled spinner talked with CaribbeanCricket.com about his World Cup experience.

DV: It's been good. Obviously we've been playing well so that makes it a lot easier to enjoy. We've come to the business end of it and we've still got a chance at the World Cup, so we're excited about playing some pretty important games coming up.

You've played in Grenada before, in 2002. How do you like this rebuilt stadium here?

It's pretty impressive. I think it's probably the most multi-functional ground that we've played at in the West Indies, in terms of it's got everything catered for at the ground, and it's a very impressive stadium, so I think there's going to be a lot of cricket played here over the years and Grenada is lucky to have something like it.

The last time that New Zealand was in the semi-finals was in the 1999 World Cup. Did the team have the confidence coming into this World Cup that you would have made it this far?

Yes I think so. I think we expected to make the semi-finals and now it's up to us to go that step further. I think most people expect us to make it; it's just that they don't expect us to get too much further, so it's our responsibility now to turn that around and try and make the final and then go and try and win the final. We're in a good space and everybody is pretty confident.

What did it mean to have a healthy Shane Bond available?

Oh, it makes a huge difference. He's obviously a marquee player, our best bowler, and the way he has played in this tournament has proved that. While he's 30, he gives us a point of difference in terms of the pace and the swing that he gets, and the realization that there are not a lot of guys in world cricket who play him that well.

And of course, they have you. 15 wickets so far.

Yes, Shane and I have always bowled together well. We're considered the wicket-taking options in the New Zealand side and we've done a good job, so as long as we continue to perform, there is a chance that we can go all the way.

During one of your matches here, I heard one of the radio commentators refer to you as 'the youngest old person in cricket.' You've been around for a long time, and yet still, you're only 28.

It does feel long, if you feel my body at some stage. It feels like a long time but most people still think I'm quite young, but I've got a lot of experience being involved in this New Zealand set up for 10 years now, so it's a long time of International cricket but hopefully there's a few more years left yet.

Were you always a spinner when you first started to play any kind of cricket?

No, most people in New Zealand when they start bowling they are medium pace bowlers trying to be Richard Hadlee, but it wasn't for me so I changed around at about 15.

When you started playing in 1997, you came in after only a handful of First Class games. What problems did that present for you?

With the cricket, not really a lot. The fact that I was 18 and thrust into the spotlight, it wasn't something that many 18 year olds want to, or are used to, but it's something I had to get over pretty quickly. So that was the most difficult thing, but I suppose now that I've played so long, you realize it's just all part of the package unfortunately.

How has the game changed over the last 10 years?

A lot more aggressive. I think batsmen are extremely aggressive. They are not satisfied to block. It's all about attack these days and that started in the One Day form of the game, where you see the scores are a lot higher now, but it's transitioned through the Test game where 3 to 4 runs an over is common place, and Test matches don't last as long because the game has been sped up so much.

It has been said that spinners need a longer time in the game to develop. Do you think that's true?

I think it's a case by case basis, but certainly for myself, I know it took me a long time to feel my feet particularly in the One Day form of the game. Test matches are a little bit easier I think, because at least you have time to settle in but One Dayers is tough, and with the way that the Power Play rules are played now, it's making it even harder for spinners.

So I suppose you have to be good to make it as a spinner in One Day cricket and you look at the ones who are doing the job now, I think Murali and Harbhajan are doing a great job for their respective countries, but it is going to be tough with how these Power Plays will work, for spinners to keep coming through.

What advice would you give to young spinners hoping to have a successful international career?

I think first and foremost, they've got to have a little bit of courage. Because batsmen are so aggressive, you can be a little bit despondent about how far the ball is travelling when you bowl it, so it does make it hard, but I think if you do persevere and do have that courage, then you do have a chance.

What do you make of the hosts not making it past the Super Eight stage?

Well, it's cricket. You've got to play well to make the semi-finals and the West Indies are probably disappointed they're not there because they haven't played good enough cricket.

I remember that remarkable First Test at Eden Gardens in March last year when we crumbled in the second innings after being 148 for 1. What was the feeling about the West Indies performance after that Test match where we lost?

I think the thing for us is that we know how good a side the West Indies are, so it was a battle of a Test match and you've got to look at that batting line up to realize how very impressive their record is. So once we thought we could win, we always knew it was going to be hard, but I think when we play in New Zealand, we always think we've got a chance of beating anyone because we know our conditions so well, and I think it's the same when you come to the West Indies. The West Indies think they have a chance at home.

I've heard that New Zealand is a lovely country. Any similarities between New Zealand and the islands of the Caribbean?

You guys are very hot and we're very cold!

You're going into your winter now...

Yeah, but even our summer is not so hot so you notice the temperature change immediately when you come over here, but they're both small islands, I think ours is probably a little bit bigger but both have beautiful scenery so I suppose it's the most common thing.

I don't know if you have noticed that the locals have cheered for New Zealand, whenever they weren't playing the West Indies. It was the same thing in the World Netball finals in 2003 when New Zealand was playing Australia. What was the reaction back home when New Zealand beat Australia?

Everyone was pretty excited. New Zealand netball side has been playing well for a while now and I think there was an expectation that they were going to win, but any time you come up against Australia I think people will realize how hard it's going to be, so the country was pretty excited.

What other sports do you follow?

I'm a big soccer and baseball man, so those are the two sports I follow the most.

I can imagine the media attention there will be if New Zealand goes on to beat Australia and win this World Cup. What would that feel like for you guys?

Ahhh...[as if visualizing it] I think it would be most guys' dream come true. I think the realization that you're a World Cup winner would be pretty special. You know, it's going to be hard whenever you play Australia, but I know the country would be reasonably excited.

You're playing Sri Lanka again in the semi-finals. They have a rested Murali and Vaas. How do you fancy your chances against them the second time around after the loss?

I think we are still confident. The thing with playing Sri Lanka is that we've had some pretty good battles over the last year or two years where the ledger is pretty even. So coming into this game, both sides would be confident they can win it. Both sides I suppose have got the semi-final that they want. I can sit here and say that we're going to win it, but I am sure if you talk to any Sri Lankan, they would say the same, so I think it's going to be probably one of the tightest games in the tournament so far.

This morning Jeetan Patel described the loss as a hiccup that you needed.

[Laughs] Yes, I suppose so. If it got the performance against South Africa out of us, then it was fantastic, but I think it was in us all along and sometimes these things are a great wake up call.

You wear glasses; I wear glasses and I have just always wondered how do you manage to play in them, especially with the helmet on. Has the glasses ever got in the way?

No, not at this stage. I'm sure it's going to happen one day but I've worn glasses since I was three years old, so I'm pretty comfortable with them. I've tried contact lenses but it's not something that's for me, so I've just got to persevere with them.

What's next? You have a long break before the 20/20 Championships.

Just rest, because a lot of us are prone to injury and I am one of them, so I think these next three months after the World Cup, we're going to be purely about recovery and getting ready for what's going to be a pretty big season next year.

I've read that you like chocolate. Is that true?

[Laughs] I don't know where these things come from but there is no one who doesn't like chocolate is there?


Have you tried Grenadian chocolate yet?

No, I haven't.

It's meant to be quite good. What's the most fun thing that you've done in the Caribbean so far in this World Cup?

James Franklin and I went out fishing in the Atlantic Ocean and it was so bumpy that he threw up everywhere so it's been my most exciting thing [laughing].