Daniel Vettori: The silent giant who left a lasting spin on the game
Legendary left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, joining some of the game's finest names.
A career that began as a bespectacled teenager in the late 1990s stretched nearly two decades, Vettori became one of New Zealand's most respected cricketers and a central figure in the team's rise in international cricket.
Finishing with more than 700 international wickets and close to 7000 international runs, Vettori's career was defined by adaptability, intelligence, and understated excellence with bat and ball.
New Zealand's Spin Maestro | Daniel Vettori | ICC Hall of Fame
Vettori remains one of only a handful of left-arm orthodox spinners to achieve sustained success across formats.
His 362 Test wickets – the most by any New Zealander barring Sir Richard Hadlee and Tim Southee – came through accuracy, subtle variation, and reading batters rather than turn alone.
Making his debut at just 18, Vettori became the youngest man to play Test cricket for New Zealand at the time.
Over time, he developed into a complete package, equally effective at holding one end or attacking when needed. Among his most memorable moments was a 12-wicket haul against Australia in Auckland in 2000, in addition adding up 20 five-wicket hauls across his career in the format.
He ended with 4,531 Test runs - a rare feat for a frontline bowler - with six centuries and 23 half-centuries as well to his name, further underlining his all-round value.
Vettori stands one of only 10 players in Test history with over 3,000 runs and 300 wickets.
Daniel Vettori's amazing one-handed catch at World Cup
Daniel Vettori makes light work of a tough catch to dismiss Marlon Samuels in New Zealand's CWC15 game against West Indies.
Vettori captained New Zealand in 32 Tests, 82 ODIs and 28 T20Is, taking over during a phase of rebuilding and helping nurture a generation that would go on to reach the 2015 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Final.
His captaincy was marked by calm decision-making and personal consistency. At the 2011 Cricket World Cup, his last as skipper, Vettori led New Zealand to the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual runners up Sri Lanka, playing a key role both with the ball and his tactical nous.
In ODIs, Vettori's 305 wickets are the most in the format by a Kiwi bowler, and was a crucial figure in the team's charge to the Cricket World Cup 2015 final, where they lost to eventual champions Australia. Following this, he called time on his international career.
His white-ball economy was exemplary, finishing with an ODI economy rate of just 4.12 and a T20I rate of 5.70, both remarkable numbers in the modern era.
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Proteas' Relentless Leader | Graeme Smith | ICC Hall of Fame graeme SMITH HALL OF FAME (2025-06-09 13:36:12Z) 113 Tests – 4,531 runs at an average of 30.00, 362 wickets 295 ODIs – 2,253 runs at an average of 17.33, 305 wickets 34 T20Is – 205 runs at an average of 12.81, 38 wickets An outstanding left-arm spin bowler, who was a more than handy middle to lower-order batter, Daniel Vettori joins the ICC Hall of Fame . Vettori paved out an excellent career as a player and was one of just three players to score 4,000 runs and take 300 wickets in Test cricket. He was also an excellent captain for the Black Caps, taking over from Stephen Fleming and leading the side to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2009. Now an assistant coach with the Australian team, Vettori was in London to receive his Hall of Fame induction in person. 'Looking at the past inductees of the ICC Hall of Fame, one can see the outstanding talent and contribution they made to the growth and popularity of the game," Vettori said. "To gain recognition alongside them is simply overwhelming and I can't find words to describe the feeling.' New Zealand's Spin Maestro | Daniel Vettori | ICC Hall of Fame Sana Mir 120 ODIs – 1,630 runs at an average of 17.91, 151 wickets 106 T20Is – 802 runs at an average of 14.07, 89 wickets Sana Mir becomes the first Pakistan women to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame , following a superb international career. With more than 200 international wickets against the white-ball, Mir is renowned for her work on the field and off the field. Mir was well known for her strong stance on body shaming, prioritising mental health and helped people affected by the COVID pandemic and fulfils a childhood dream by joining the ICC Hall of Fame. 'From dreaming as a little girl that one day there would even be a women's team in our country to now standing here, inducted among the very legends I idolised long before I ever held a bat or a ball – this is a moment I couldn't have dared to imagine," she said. 'I am incredibly grateful for this honour and hope to give back to the sport in any way I can. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my teammates, coaches and family for all their support over the years.' Pakistan's Trailblazer | Sana Mir | ICC Hall of Fame 10 Tests – 300 runs at an average of 18.75, 20 dismissals 126 ODIs – 4,056 runs at an average of 38.26, 138 dismissals 90 T20Is – 2,177 runs at an average of 29.02, 74 dismissals One of the most talented female players in recent times, England's star keeper-batter Sarah Taylor joins the ICC Hall of Fame following a 14-year career at international level . 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