Only the eighth allrounder to take 300 Test wickets and make 3000 runs, left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori was one of New Zealand's most valuable players during the first 15 years of the 21st century, a master of drift and subtle variations in flight, speed and length.

He was the youngest man to play Test cricket for New Zealand, making his debut at 18 against England in 1997. His 12 for 149 against Australia at Eden Park in March 2000 was the first of three ten-wicket hauls, and he consistently did well against them, finishing with 66 wickets from 19 matches. He also excelled against Bangladesh, taking 34 wickets in four away Tests. His standing as one of the world's best spinners in the mid-2000s was recognised with his inclusion in the World XI that played a Test against Australia, the No. 1 side, in the Super Series in 2005-06.

A more than handy lower-order batter, Vettori averaged an impressive 39.76 from No. 8, and had six Test hundreds, including a 140 in Colombo and three at home against Pakistan.

He took over as New Zealand captain from Stephen Fleming in 2007, and though he didn't have much success in Tests, winning series against only Bangladesh, the side were consistent in limited-overs matches under him: they reached the final of the 2009 Champions Trophy, and the semi-finals of the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup. Vettori bowed out of international cricket after New Zealand lost the 2015 ODI World Cup final to Australia, and then went on to work as a coach for national teams like Australia and Bangladesh, and also in several franchise leagues across the world.