Former Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori (Hall 1992-1996) has been inducted into the International Cricket Council Hall of Fame, joining a distinguished group of global cricketing icons at a ceremony in London.
Vettori, 46, was honoured alongside Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India), Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith (South Africa), Matthew Hayden (Australia), and women’s stars Sana Mir (Pakistan) and Sarah Taylor (England) at the ‘A Day with the Legends’ event, held at Abbey Road Studios.
Vettori made his test debut at just 18, becoming the youngest player to represent New Zealand. Over a 17-year international career, he played 113 tests, scoring 4,531 runs and taking 362 wickets. He remains one of only three players worldwide to complete the 4000-run and 300-wicket test double.
He also featured in 295 limited-overs internationals and captained New Zealand from 2007 to 2011, leading the side to the final of the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy and two other ICC semifinals.
"To gain recognition alongside so many greats is simply overwhelming,” Vettori said. “I can’t find words to describe the feeling."
The Hall of Fame induction coincided with the build-up to the ICC World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa, which begins at Lord’s on Wednesday.
Vettori becomes just the fourth New Zealander in the Hall of Fame, following Sir Richard Hadlee, Martin Crowe and Debbie Hockley.
ICC chairman Jay Shah described the inductees as “individuals whose remarkable careers have shaped cricket’s legacy and inspired generations”.
