There is a sense of calm about Daniel Vettori that encapsulates his cricket. His words are measured, so are his moves in the arena.

This old fashioned player with enormous cricketing nous finds himself amidst the hustle and bustle of Twenty20 cricket.

RCB will bounce back

It has been a rough ride so far for Royal Challengers Bangalore but captain Vettori remains confident. “Most teams go through losing streaks in a lengthy league phase such as the one at the IPL. I am very excited about the talent in the side. We can come back,” the 32-year-old told The Hindu here on Saturday.

The topic soon shifted to his role with the New Zealand team in the coming days. Vettori, though, has abdicated captaincy in all forms of the game for his country. A suave, successful skipper, who comprehended the flow of the game, Vettori's tactical attributes would be missed by New Zealand.

New ideas

Explained Vettori, “It's time for new ideas, fresh inputs. Basically, it's about the four-year cycle from one World to another. A new captain has to build the team for the next World Cup.”

Asked about spinners suffering in the shorter formats of the game, he said, “the boundaries are too small. If you make the boundaries longer, it will even the contest and the spinners will come into the picture more. I believe bigger boundaries will solve the problem.”

Then he dwelt on his area of specialty — left arm spin. Apart from Vettori, there are not too many bowlers of this tribe thriving in international cricket. Vettori said, “Monty Panesar started very well and could still have some good years for England left in him.”

Vettori conceded it might not be possible for a young spinner to adjust to all the formats in his formative years but added the good spinners, those who impart serious revolutions on the ball, would still come through. “There might not be too many young spinners around but do not forget that spinners mature late. They blossom with experience. Give them time. I do not think bowling is under any threat.”

The New Zealander's favourite contemporary spinner is Harbhajan Singh. “I can take time off just to watch him bowl. He spins the ball both ways, has the variations. He likes a duel and has the aggression, which is good to see in a spinner,” said Vettori.

Opening out on the New Zealand side, Vettori acknowledged the natural ability of Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder and Matrin Guptill. “There is so much talent and that is why it is so frustrating when the side does not perform,” he mulled.


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