“I hope Twenty20 will only be part of the landscape and not the future of
the game. I personally love the more traditional forms of the game that are
Test cricket and one-day cricket” - Daniel Vettori, World
Twenty20 tournament, September 2007
So, put yourself in Daniel Vettori's shoes this morning. How are you feeling?
A touch nervous, surely, with the Test not far away. A little apprehensive,
perhaps, given the callow nature of your top six. Unprepared, too, I should
imagine because the injury to your spinning finger has necessitated a spell
on the sidelines and has meant that you have not completed a match on tour
so far. Mind you, if you had been on the plane with the rest of your team,
you might have got a few more overs under your belt. Funny how things work
out, eh?
It has been a low-key start to the tour. To say that your team have flown
under the radar would be to exaggerate the interest. Well, you will be used
to that, I suppose; you have always revelled in your underdog status. Not
that the lack of interest has been a bad thing. It has meant precious little
comment on your decision to play for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier
League instead of braving the first two chilly weeks of May in England.
Not only you, of course, but your vice-captain, too, and three other senior
players. About half your Test team, in other words. A little odd, that. How
do the rest of your boys feel? Jealousy is never a good thing in a team
sport. Still, it is good to know that you are more enthusiastic about
Twenty20 now than you were during its inaugural World Cup.
Can you imagine the hoo-ha if the England captain had not arrived with his
team. Five-and-a-half years ago, you may remember, Nasser Hussain was
criticised for not travelling on the same plane with his team to Australia.
But he went early so that his child would be born in Australia and by doing
so made sure that he did not miss any cricket. Other than that, it is hard
to recall any other recent examples of a captain travelling separately from
his team. The end of amateurism was supposed to put a stop to all that.
Maybe you would like to walk out on to the ground this morning from a
different entrance, too.
Now I know that John Bracewell pretty much runs the show off the field, but
you will have wanted to give the boys a final few words before today's game.
What did you say, I wonder. You are too bright and too articulate to talk in
the usual cricketing clichés, but even so it is not as though you could have
said, “We're all in this together, boys” with a straight face.
At some point over the past couple of days, you will have wanted to look your
team-mates in the eye and tell them what you expect. Did you secretly feel
embarrassed? For while that authority and respect springs from many sources
- ability as a player, tactical nous, wise judgment, honesty - it also often
comes from the fact that a captain should not ask his players to do anything
that he is not prepared to do. Such as turn up on time.
You will know - as your predecessor, Stephen Fleming, did - how important the
captain is to the team. You will be their first public face this morning
when you come out for the toss all neat and tidy in your blazer (as long as
you do not forget it, as you did last winter on two occasions). It will be
you, not “Bracers”, who makes decisions on the field, according to the
pattern of the game and the mood of your bowlers. It will be you who must
rally the team if things start to go wrong. The bond between the captain and
his players is at the heart of every good or bad team.
Obviously, the opening two weeks of the tour did not strike you as very
important. Other leaders of the past would not agree. Ian Chappell, the
former Australia captain, thought the early weeks of a tour a crucial time,
particularly if you had a bunch of young, inexperienced players. It is a
time to bond (sorry about the cliché) and to develop friendships and
understandings; a time when, as captain, you find out how certain players
tick.
Chappell used to say that his door was always open if any player needed to get
anything off his chest. Now I know the miracle of Skype means that you can
have a face-to-face chat with a player from thousands of miles away, but I
am not sure that this was the type of pastoral care that Chappell was
talking about.
Those advantages that accrue from being together from the start are hard to
quantify. But there would have been obvious practical advantages, too, for
you and the other four. Is Kyle Mills happy with the Duke ball after only
one outing on tour? Has Ross Taylor (26 runs from four first-class knocks)
come to terms with English conditions?
I wanted, if I may, to draw your attention to something else you said.
Reflecting on your decision to miss the first two weeks, you said: “I'm not
really worried about how it looks. I'm worried about how it affects the team
and the dynamic. I know it'll be a huge opportunity for some young guys to
be assimilated into a New Zealand side. We go away on most tours and don't
have any warm-up games. I don't think we can say that we all need to turn up
on the same day because that's the way it's supposed to be, because we don't
do it on any other tour.”
Sorry to be awkward, but your team played warm-up matches on virtually every
tour you have been on. In South Africa, last time, for example, you won your
first warm-up match, lost the second before getting pulverised in the first
Test. After that defeat, Justin Vaughan, your boss and the chief executive
of New Zealand Cricket, said that “a lack of cricket left us cruelly
exposed”. Given that you are ranked No7 in the world and are notoriously
poor travellers, don't you think that you might have wanted as much
preparation as possible?
Obviously, your decision to miss the start of the tour in favour of a format
of the game for which you previously did not show much enthusiasm reflects
the changing nature of the cricketing landscape. Not long ago an England
tour would have been the summit of a New Zealand cricketer's ambition. Not
any more, it seems. You had Vaughan over a barrel, didn't you? You left the
decision to him, but really you knew that pragmatism dictated that he could
not prevent you from going. He knows, as you do, that it is the only way of
preventing more players joining the IPL and being lost to New Zealand for
good.
The captaincy of your country is like a nice cake, don't you think? There are
the trimmings and the icing on top - the fat contracts, the acclaim, the
public profile - but there is a lot of effort that is needed to make it
work. While everyone else can just turn up and enjoy the finished product,
the chef is responsible for making it edible. Responsibility. It is a key
word, wouldn't you say? All that extra time in the kitchen that no one else
sees.
Like most people in the game, I am delighted that cricketers are finally
getting well paid. But invalidating contracts and ignoring agreements are
among the less edifying sights of this rupee-fuelled frenzy. You did not
have to accept the captaincy of your country, just as New Zealand did not
have to accept to play four warm-up matches. But to accept and then turn up
with just over half a team is downright rude. Clearly, in this new world,
old-fashioned manners count for little.
I really hope you enjoyed handing over that man of the match award to Vettori, Mike.
Another typical pompus arrogant englishmen...
enjoy losing the test series to the 'underdog' kiwis.
Dot, Christchurch, New Zealand
Hey Athers - 48 and 5/69. Who's not leading by example chump?
Mark, Auckland, NZ
This would never have happened under Fleming's leadership. Clear to see that Ath holds Flemo in high regard, Vettori has a lot of learning to do and he amongst others have had their heads turned by the Rupee.
This will be a comfortable series win for England, but I don't feel it will prove anything
Phil, Manchester, UK
yeh Glenn or the Samoan Rugby team (you know the team with half of them playing in New Zealand or having been born there) nearly beat England in the Oz world cup.
Half their team hadn't been released by their English team, although funnily enough all the English team had been.
Frances Urquhart, Chungnamdo, Korea
If you are unhappy that cricket is owned by India and ruled on the park by Australia, perhaps you could show some real courage and say so rather than taking pot shots at Daniel Vettori.
Leave our captain alone, and fess up to what is really bothering you.
Frances Urquhart, Chungnamdo, Korea
Before Packer, cricketers got paid very little. Now they get paid pretty well (don't compare football). The IPL is all about greed and it has encouraged players all over the world to compromise themselves in many ways. Vettori is not alone. It is a shame (but it is also not limited to cricket)
Ed, London, UK
"Not long ago an England tour would have been the summit of a New Zealand cricketer's ambition. Not any more, it seems." Looks like this is the root cause of this senseless diatribe.
Mohan, Bangalore, India
"Survey reveals that one third of recent England players are tempted to switch to play in the Indian Premier League as the ECB remains in talks with Allen Stanford over series"
Headline from another times article....what was your point again atherton?
tommy, bris, aus
At least Vettori still warrants a place on his team judged on cricketing merits... unlike OUR captain, Athers. Write an article on that!
Admiral wille Horton, Bexleyheath, Essex
Flintoft, night on the town, Captaincy a real good example
Dave Robinson, Cambridge,
What is downright rude is not to walk off the field when you hit the cover off the ball and the wicket keeper takes a fair catch. You might think your confrontation with Donald was heroic - I think it was null and void.
Ath - please don't throw stones in glass houses.
Johnny Walker, Cape Town,
"... failed to lead by example..." That's rich coming from Ath. His hang-dog, colourless, bored style of captaincy failed to inspire even my most enthusiastic granny. That's why Nass had such an easy act to follow.
James S, Mombasa,
On the issue I am with Mike although I must say he has gone a bit over the top. Vettori has certainly made a mistake but the cricket board in NZ is equally responsible.
prateek, New Delhi, India
Secondly, if english players had been allowed to enter the IPL, well whos to say the english captain wouldn't be doing the same? as the same for half of the team. Even your comments about Fleming are irrelevant, his career had ended before the riches began. I really hope this is just a windup....
Simon, aus, aus
Great article Atherton- at least one person has the gall to say what everybody else is actually thinking.
Jessica, Lndon, England
Is "rude" code for "you should've turned up on time to practice ball tampering in the local conditions with local dirt like all good test captains should"?
Murray, Wgtn, NZ
The irony of Atherton lecturing on manners while bad mouthing Vettori is a bit rich. Hope this was just a windup!
Sean, London,
Mathew there are no Samoans in the NZ side.
If you mean Taylor he was born and raised in NZ to a Pakeha father and Samoan mother. You are ignorant at best or racist at worst. I've had enough of the bigotry on the Rugby boards, hopefully it doesn't infect cricket followers as well.
Jack Brown, Vienna,
so david sorrell, what about the samoan in your side?
i didn't realise all the south pacific islands were part of new zealand.
i agree with athers, Vettori is very naive.
mathew, london,
A typical, seeing what you want to see and ignoring the facts, article from Atherton. Be honest mate, you're just jealous you know even if you were still playing, you wouldn't have been picked.
There are so many examples of Eng sport showing far less respect for their opponants than Vettori here.
Calvin, London,
Does it show that Michael is learning, or does it show the sort of learning he has had David?
chris, geelong, australia
Bravo Athers! Its funny how talk of preperation for tours, burn out and too much cricket comments have all taken a back seat now the IPL riches are on offer. What about a similar article looking at KP's quotes on this issue. Think you'll find they are just as insulting to the punters as vettoris.
batchy, london,
Very ungracious Athers. In this modren era teams are expected to hit the ground running, and the injury to Vettori's hand, like the selection foibles that have seen players like Shane Bond and Fleming ostracised is hardly his fault. Fact is Kiwi cricket is poorly paid.
Offspinner, Freiburg, DE
4. We are all NZ'ers in the Black Caps not like the motley disparate mercenaries the England team have that at the first sight of trouble wilt. Still, England should win easily with the talent and money they have behind them but, yes, we do like to be the underdog and every dog has its day!
David Sorrell, London,
Let's wait and watch,Mike.
Vijeet Rathi, Amravati, India
Maybe Ather's wider concern is the overall adverse impact on the real game from Twenty/20, a format which may well end up being nothing more than a bookmaker's/match fixer's/'have boots will travel' player's, dream.
But, as the saying goes, 'Money rules, ok?.'
Sad but true!
Dave, Totnes, England
Sorry F.E.C. I just cannot understand what you are on about. Seems a bit sour grapes. England are no longer the top draw or from the top drawer. A few dollars more or play against England, work it out yourself! Btw it's raining!
Gavrilo Prinzip, Bromley, UK
Puerile
Derek , Nyon, Switzerland
I disagree with Athers. very harsh. Good on ya Daniel, cash in , that's what I say. Watch out England, cos our boyz will be doing the same. The money is just to big to ignore, especially if you ply your trade in NZ. I think this is a storm in a tea cup. Come on England!
Jimbo, Chamonix, France
Half a team? The other half play their test debut today.
Vettori has been groomed for captaincy for years and was the natural choice. As for injury, as a New Zealander you get used to these things. You can't 'accuse' players of abandoning test preparation games because of injury.
GO the blackcaps
Jamie, Christchurch, New Zealand
Congratulations --- great article
Douglas Green, Poulton le Fylde, England
Nice bit of wind up Athers but it will be like water of a ducks back for 4 reasons - 1. We live right next door to a country called Australia and they created the wind up so we are vaccinated from an early age to sledging (nice try though, it shows your learning).
David Sorrell, London,
2. NZ doesn't have county cricket so only those contracted centrally can make any sort of living and they are nowhere near what the England, Indian & Australian players earn. So the IPL is a godsend for us and average NZ'er completely understands this, in fact encourages it - look at B McCullum!
David Sorrell, London,
How much did you pocket from one-day cricket in your career? What was the origins of that in its modern form? A group of test players (captains and all) turning their backs on Test cricket to play a rebel competition. Ian Chappell at the forefront. Its professional sport, its always about the money.
Peter Lye, Wellington, NZ
Michael, I understand where you are coming from, and if New Zealand is defeated in the first test I would call it justified - but perhaps a little hasty. If he hasn't turn up and NZ wins the first test, no problem.
Edward, Dunedin, New Zealand
I can't decide if I agree with Athers or not - if he'd turned down the captaincy, who would do it? Not Oram or Macmillan they were in India as well.
So does he turn up late and look like he doesn't care; or deos he reject the captaincy, leaving it to a complete novice and turn up late anyway?
David , Sydney, Australia
Atherton must be the only person who didn't notice the washed out matches in April. This year and every year. I don't see how arriving earlier would have made any diff. The players who played in the IPL will out perform the rest (on either side) and the value of those matches in India will be seen.
SanjayN, Manchester, England
Glen - Bit of a difference between not going on tour after a 35 game rugby season in order to have an operation/rest and deciding to earn a few dollars in playing in India instead of playing for your country.
Paul, Melboune, Australia
"rude" How many times have Kiwi league players not been able to represent their country because their English clubs would not release them. How about English rugby teams turning up in NZ with a 3rd string line-up. People in glass houses should definitely not throw stones.
Glen Urquhart, Auckland, New Zealand