Daniel Vettori has dismissed Denesh Ramdin three times in eight one-day internationals. Photo / Getty Images
Every time West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin strides out to bat against New Zealand, Daniel Vettori mentally starts marking out his runup.
Indeed, it was no surprise Vettori immediately brought himself on when Ramdin arrived at the crease yesterday.
The New Zealand skipper's highly impressive strike rate suggests
he has the wood on Ramdin.
Yesterday, Vettori got Ramdin with his sixth ball, after keeping him scoreless the previous five. Ramdin went lbw to the left arm spinner's clever arm ball, making it the eighth time he had fallen to Vettori in tests or ODIs.
He has been dismissed in both forms of the international game more times by Vettori than any other bowler.
On five occasions in the space of four tests - discounting the washed-out Napier match three years ago - Vettori has had his wicket. The next best is Australian Brett Lee, who has dismissed Ramdin three times.
Vettori has dismissed Ramdin three times in eight ODIs, not all of which Ramdin has batted in.
Vettori's run on Ramdin began with an lbw decision in the ODI at Christchurch on February 25, 2006.
He also got him once each in both the Dunedin and Napier tests on this tour.
But Vettori's real bunnies have been Australians. He took rival spinner Shane Warne's wicket a remarkable nine times in tests, one more than Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful, who has fallen eight times in as many tests, with Ramdin and Australians Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martyn all going five times.
In ODIs, Australian Andrew Symonds has been dismissed by Vettori eight times, two more than South African Jacques Kallis and Sri Lankan Marvan Atapattu.
His fine figures of four for 20 yesterday - his best against the West Indies - took Vettori to 237 ODI wickets in 228 matches, to sit alongside his 286 in 89 tests. He has taken 21 in 12 tests against the West Indies.
