Veteran New Zealand bowler Daniel Vettori has claimed that the presentation when he became the nation's most-capped Test and ODI player was very pleasing, and said that to be able to hold the record for Test matches and one-dayers as a spinner is very satisfying.
Vettori reached the milestone during New Zealand's 120-run win over Sri Lanka in the sixth ODI at the University Oval. He was presented with a framed photo by New Zealand Cricket president Stephen Boock to mark the occasion on Sunday.
Vettori's 280th appearance moved him ahead of another former skipper, Stephen Fleming, who he also passed with his 112th Test for New Zealand in Sharjah in November, Stuff.co.nz reported.
Vettori said that it's confusing with the other games that Fleming and he have played, including four ODIs for world selection sides, so he never can quite keep up with when it actually comes about.
The veteran spinner and former skipper said that New Zealand manager Mike Sandle spoke to him a couple of days ago about a presentation and it was very pleasing, very nice the way it was all done. He added that Boock spoke very well and also within the team as well, claiming that it's a really nice way to celebrate it, also because of the way they played.
Vettori bowled an accurate, stingy spell of 0-22 off eight overs and kept the brakes on Sri Lanka's star duo Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, before New Zealand cruised to victory. They lead the series 4-1 with only Thursday's game seven in Wellington to play.
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Vettori took satisfaction from tying down the quality of batsmen he was against, with 38 ODI centuries between them. It's just a few weeks short of 18 years since Vettori made his Test debut as a fresh-faced teenager against England in Wellington in February 1997.
Vettori said that to play for such a long period of time and have the longevity and durability to put those milestones together, particularly as a spin bowler in New Zealand where conditions aren't always conducive to bowling spin with the size of the grounds and the nature of the wickets. He added that as a spin bowler to be able to hold the record for Test matches and one-dayers is very satisfying.