There is pressure on me to deliver: Vettori

Daniel Vettori was only 18 when he made his Test debut for New Zealand in 1996-97. He has transformed himself into one of the top flight left-arm spinners in the world. Vettori was only 20 when he last played in India and had taken 10 wickets in two Tests.

This time around, his visit to India has assumed greater significance. He is being touted as the bowler to watch out for after his great run in Sri Lanka. The well-built Kiwi spoke on a variety of topics about the tour of India.

How are you looking at this tour?

I am pretty excited and looking forward to bowling at least 100 overs in the two Tests. But we know how tough the situation is going to be like and how difficult every match here is going to be. We have talked about that and we are looking forward to getting out there and playing.

How badly has the rain affected your build-up to the two Tests?

Obviously it’s not a great start and it’s very frustrating. The last time we came here, a similar thing happened. I know the Indian players were looking to get some match practice as well, so it’s bad for both teams.

Howhas the chat with Bishen Singh Bedi, when you were here the last time, helped you?

There aren’t too many left-arm spinners in the world as good as him. Obviously his tips were of great help and I am looking forward to catching up with him sometime later in the tour.

The last time you came here you were very young. Now you are the spearhead of the Kiwi bowling attack. Does it put you under any pressure?

It’s a little more responsibility, more so as I am now one of the senior guys in the team who has played here before. So, there is some pressure on me and Paul Wiseman to deliver the goods, especially as the tracks here are going to support spinners.

Have you made some adjustments for that?

Not much, really. I have to wait and see the behaviour of the wickets and then adjust. Basically, I just need to settle into a long spell because that’s what is  expected here. The conditions here do help batting but just like anywhere, if you bowl consistently well and you bowl good balls, you will pick up wickets.

The pressure is on us to bowl well but if you can do that, you will have a successful tour. But what makes it tough is the quality of batsmen and the nature of wickets.

Does your tour of Sri Lanka give you an extra edge?

We played on some wickets that turned a bit. I think we are taking a lot of heart from how we played there and we also learnt a lot about the conditions. Hopefully, we can apply those here.

How do you rate the Indian batting line up?

Everyone knows how good they are. You just have to go out and bowl well and do that consistently. For, if we don’t, they are going to kills us.

What about your stint with Nottinghamshire?

Brilliant, really. I enjoyed going there and getting a month of cricket before we came here. I think it helped me a lot.

Why do you think there is such a decline in the production of quality left-arm spinners?

Probably it’s due to the advent of leg-spinners like Shane Warne and what he has done for the game.