Cricket: Vettori a fan of latecomers

Batsman Peter Ingram has quickly impressed skipper Daniel Vettori. Photo / Getty Images

For one who made his mark so young, New Zealand cricket captain Dan Vettori appreciates those who take much longer to rise to the top.

As a national selector alongside coach Mark Greatbatch and Glenn Turner, Vettori is responsible for the promotion of Peter Ingram and Andy McKay, the newest members of the national one-day team.

Both left favourable impressions on debut against Bangladesh in Napier last Friday and, barring a major mishap overnight, both will feature again when the teams meet for the second game in the three-match series at University Oval in Dunedin today.

Opening batsman Ingram, 31, marked his coming out party with an intelligent and composed innings of 69 off 74 balls in Napier, where fast bowler McKay, two years his junior, exhibited some of the raw pace which so excites Vettori in taking figures of two for 40 off eight overs.

Ingram, of Central Districts, has scored a bucketload of runs at domestic level in the past three years following several seasons struggling to adjust to the demands of the game after making his first-class debut in 2001-02.

Whereas Ingram had more than 50 first-class appearances behind him before getting the nod from the national selectors, left-armer McKay, formerly of Auckland and now Wellington, had played only 24 first-class matches and 14 domestic one-dayers.

Both have left a favourable impression on Vettori since joining the national squad last week.

Vettori, New Zealand's youngest test player at the age of 18 in 1997, recalls playing age group cricket with Ingram.

"I've been impressed with his ability over the last few years. It's nice for a guy to put so many runs on the board, get picked and then do well."

Ingram, a stand-and-deliver type with limited footwork, has grown to trust his own instincts after several years of self doubt which clouded his thought processes and run production.

"He's sure of his game, he understands what he needs to do after playing for so long," Vettori said.

McKay is not blessed with as much experience but he, too, has an important ally in Vettori, who championed his cause after facing him in the domestic Twenty20 competition last month.

"He was definitely the quickest guy I faced in the HRV Cup," said Vettori, who compared him to retired test fast bowler Shane Bond in the pace stakes.

"We took a chance on him because of that pace. I think he does have it. If he can balance that with some control and experience in the international game that he could be a handy asset for us."

McKay was clocked at speeds of 146km/h by the speedball radar at Napier although Vettori did not need a piece of technology to tell him what he'd already witnessed.

"He can be on a par with Shane when he gets it right.

"Shane brings something different in his accuracy and ability to swing the ball, but Andy certainly bowls as quick as him."

It is now up to Ingram and McKay to make of their international careers what they can, but Vettori sees no reason why they cannot remain on the scene for a considerable period.

"Hopefully, both have got a good four-five years in them.

"They have the potential to have pretty sound international careers with a bit of longevity as well."

- NZPA