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I'm looking forward to bowling a lot: Vettori

By Sanjay Rajan

Photo V. Ganesan

Oh no! Not another wet day, Kiwi left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori seems to be saying as rain puts an end to the second day's play in the visiting side's tour opener against Board President's XI in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

VISAKHAPATNAM SEPT. 27. New Zealand was robbed of much needed match practice when the second day's play in its three-day tour opener against Board President's XI was washed out due to rain at the ACA-VDCA Stadium here on Saturday.

The loss was more so for Daniel Vettori, on whose shoulders lie the Black Caps' hopes of doing well in the two-Test series and also build on their No. 3 position in the ICC Test rankings.

The left-arm spinner said it was definitely frustrating to lose another day to rain. "The last time we came here, a similar thing happened. I know the Indian players were looking to get some match practice as well, so it has worked badly for both teams."

The 24-year-old thrives on challenges and pitting his skills against the Indians in their backyard has got him all geared up. "I am pretty excited. I have been looking forward to coming here and getting a lot of overs. We know how tough the situation is going to be and how hard it will be against India, but we have talked about that and are looking forward to getting out there and getting some games."

Does he feel any pressure on being the spearhead? "It is a little more responsibility, as I am the senior bowler in the team and the guy who has played here before. So, there is a little bit of pressure on myself and also Paul Wiseman to come up with the goods, especially bowling spin in India."

Vettori made his Test debut against England at Wellington in the 1996-97 series as a promising 18-year-old. He gained prominence in the Australian summer of 2001-02, soon after recovering from his back problem, when he picked up five wickets in the drawn Hobart Test and then six for 87 in the Aussie first innings at Perth.

He matured a lot on the last tour of Sri Lanka. Talking about his experience in the Emerald Isle, he said, "we played on some wickets that turned a bit. We did well, managed to win the one-day series and drew the Test series. So, I think we are taking a lot of heart from how we played over there as well as some knowledge of the conditions that hopefully we can apply here."

Vettori said he might include some of the tips that he gained from Bishan Bedi on their last tour while the recent stint with Nottinghamshire has helped him a lot too.

Asked about the adjustments he has to make to bowl well on Indian wickets, he said, "I don't get to bowl much on New Zealand tracks, so I don't have to make too many adjustments! For a spinner it is very enjoyable coming over here because you know you are going to get wickets that are going to help you.

He felt the Indian conditions, however, also help batting. "But then, just like anywhere else, if you bowl consistently well and you bowl good balls, you will pick up wickets. The pressure goes on us to bowl well but if you can do that, you will have a successful tour. But it is very tough because of the quality of the batsmen and because of the nature of the wickets."

On the Indian batting line-up, he said, "I think everyone knows how good they are. They have four or five of the best batsmen in the world. It is a tough opposition. So we realise how tough they are, I suppose reality sets in.

"You just have to go out and bowl good balls and do that consistently. If we do not do that, then we are going to get killed. So, we realise that and we know we are going to have to bowl exceptionally well."

Vettori said, considering the amount of overs he will be bowling on this tour, it would test his old back injury. "Hopefully I am all over it, but touch wood, it doesn't come back."

He also felt the decline of left-arm spin in world cricket was probably owing to more star leg-spinners. "The blossoming of Shane Warne and what he has done for the game. And also look at the off-spinners around the world - Muthiah Muralitharan, Harbhajan Singh and Saqlain Mushtaq, who bowl the one that goes the other way.

"They place so much importance on them that they have become a lot more dominant. Left-arm spinners are a dying breed and there are only a few of us left, but I think it is the influx of the leggie and the off-spinner who have taken it the other way."

Vettori was speaking to the press after the umpires officially called off play at lunch. Early morning showers and another burst of rain at about 11 a.m. rendered the arena completely soggy.

The Kiwis arrived at the ground at 11 a.m. while the BP XI stayed back at the hotel.

Only skipper Virender Sehwag and manager Pronob Roy came to the ground to join Fleming and the umpires for the third and final inspection.

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