At last Daniel Vettori looks set to give New Zealand test cricket fans an encore.
When his career in the format ended prematurely against the West Indies in July 2012 it left a feeling almost as empty as the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in which he was playing, out in the Antiguan backblocks.
A single worked to square leg by Assad Fudadin to give the West Indies victory was a lacklustre way to end a 112-test career. None for three off 1.3 overs is not Bradman getting a second-ball duck at the Oval in 1948 but nor is it Muttiah Muralitharan getting his 800th test wicket with his final ball before getting chaired off the ground before Sri Lanka beat India at Galle by 10 wickets.
Little did fans know Vettori's Caribbean appearance would be his last in international whites before injuries severed his chances of passing Sir Richard Hadlee's New Zealand record of 431 test wickets or becoming the second all-rounder after India's Kapil Dev to achieve 5000 runs and 400 wickets (Vettori has 4516 and 360 respectively).
With his call-up into the test squad Vettori now gets a chance to add to those numbers if - fitness pending - he is picked against Pakistan tomorrow night in Sharjah.
It creates a more fitting test farewell and makes his comments more prescient after visiting the New Zealand dressing room on the second day of the drawn match in Dubai.
"It's still exhilarating. It's a familiar feeling and one I haven't experienced for a while but it's still an exciting one."
With New Zealand set to field a rare three specialist spinners in their attack, Vettori would get a chance to play in a pivotal test given Pakistan are up 1-0 in the three-match series.
New Zealand has only beaten Pakistan in away tests twice, in 1969 and 1996, both at Lahore. A drawn series against the world's No.3 ranked side would be a notable achievement.
Another cap would see Vettori become the outright record-holder for New Zealand test appearances, which he holds on 111 with Stephen Fleming (Vettori's other test, his 112th, came for the World XI against Australia in 2005). He will move to second behind Bert Sutcliffe (18 years and 72 days) for longest New Zealand career. The opening day will be 17 years and 295 days since he debuted against England at the Basin Reserve.
The gist of his role will be as a bowling all-rounder. Circumstances permitting, his workload will probably be capped at 10-15 overs per innings; not much more than a one-dayer. Ish Sodhi, Mark Craig, Trent Boult and Tim Southee are expected to complete the majority of the work.
At this stage Vettori's appearance will be a one-off cameo. Unless there's drastic global warming New Zealand will never play three spinners at home in the foreseeable future and he's unlikely to be on another New Zealand 'A' tour in such close proximity. The 35-year-old has also stated he doesn't want to hinder the development of 22-year-old Sodhi or 27-year-old Craig.
This is 'needs-must'; an SOS. The pitch has the sheen of glazed pottery and anyone who can find a live blade of grass either has X-ray vision or is telling porkies.
A quality slow left-arm orthodox spinner like Vettori might find some purchase out of the footmarks once the pitch shows signs of turn, like in the first over on the opening day.
Examples of New Zealand spinning trios in away tests during the last 30 years;
1) John Bracewell/Evan Gray/Stephen Boock - vs Pakistan, Hyderabad 1984
Lost by 7 wickets, combined for 11-355.
2) Boock/Bracewell/Vaughan Brown - vs Australia, Sydney 1985
Lost by 4 wickets, combined for 8-307.
3) Bracewell/Gray/Dipak Patel* - vs Australia, Adelaide 1987
Match drawn, combined for 2-235.
4) Bracewell/Gray/Chris Kuggeleijn - vs India, Bangalore,1988
Lost by 172 runs, combined for 4-331.
5) Daniel Vettori/Paul Wiseman/Mark Priest - vs Sri Lanka, Colombo 1998
Lost by 164 runs, combined for 10-241.
* Patel was picked as a specialist batsman who spun a bit, before his latent spin talent was discovered.
ANDREW ALDERSON TRAVELLED TO THE UAE COURTESY OF EMIRATES
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