Cricket: Vettori's test top five

Daniel Vettori. Photo / Getty Images

Assuming that Daniel Vettori has played his last test (and it would be a huge shame if he never got a farewell test in New Zealand, but that's another story), Dylan Cleaver looks back on some of his greatest moments in the five-day format.

1. v Australia, Eden Park, 2000
• 5-62 & 7-87
In a low-scoring test, a still young and slightly Harry Potteresque Daniel Vettori ran through Australia twice, handing New Zealand a fourth innings target of 281 to win. They fell 63 runs short and despite this being Vettori's first 10-wicket haul in tests, we suspect he'll remember just as acutely his second innings duck, caught Shane Warne, bowled Colin 'Funky' Miller.

Vettori celebrates taking the wicket of Australia's Steve Waugh at Eden Park, Auckland, on March 11, 2000.

2. v Pakistan, Hamilton, 2003
• 137 not out
This was confirmation that New Zealand didn't only possess a classy left-arm orthodox spinner, but an allrounder of note. Vettori's three innings before this maiden century were 55, 60 and 48 not out, scored in the unfamiliar climes of Kandy, Ahmedabad and Mohali respectively. The century, scored at No 9 - Robbie Hart was batting ahead of him - was full of trademark nurdles behind square and slices to third man.

3. v England, Hamilton, 2008
• 88 & 35
• 2-88 (56 overs) & 1-16 (14 overs)
This test victory in many ways exemplified the often understated excellence of Vettori. Most will remember this for Ross Taylor's breakthrough first innings century, or Kyle Mills knocking the top of England's second innings, but Vettori, by now captaining the side, was the glue that held the show together. He bowled a phenomenal amount of overs and his 35 in NZ's second innings collapse for 177 gave the team belief they could still win.

Vettori celebrates taking the wicket of England's Paul Collingwood in Hamilton on March 9, 2008.

4. v Bangladesh, Chittagong, 2008
• 5-59 & 4-74
• 55* & 76
We can already hear the, "It's only Bangladesh", but here's the simple truth: Vettori was the only thing standing between New Zealand and an ignominious defeat. As it was they/ he won by three wickets chasing 317. It was a sterling one-man effort, encapsulated by his moving to No 4 in the order for the second innings, because he was better equipped to counter the spinners than the specialist batsmen.

5. v Pakistan, Wellington, 2011
• 110 & 1
• 4-100 & 1-57
Perhaps Vettori's last compelling allround performance in tests. His first innings backs-to-the-wall century was the sixth and probably final one of his career, coming in his favourite No 8 position. He took four first innings wickets and when Pakistan were chasing 274 to win on the final day, his 34 overs of increasingly nude spin cost just 57 runs.