Following the World Cup it's not unusual for a rash of retirements to be announced. They might be from all cricket for which fair play to those who've given so much for the sport. Daniel Vettori is the prime example. They might be just from ODIs to prolong their Test careers (respect, Michael Clarke!) or to focus on T20 earnings (derision!). Alternatively it may be just the first sign of winding down a wonderful career having nothing else left to achieve in the game. That's you, Kumar Sangakkara. Yes, I know some of these declarations were made during rather than after the competition, but I'm surprised there haven't been more.
With players, especially bowlers, well into their 30s, the next World Cup will probably be a tournament too far but the likes of Steyn, Anderson, Younis Khan and Johnson still have a lot to offer their nations. For the 36 year-old Vettori, calling it a day was hardly a surprise. Having returned from an injury-induced international wilderness to play his part in New Zealand's fantastic run on largely home territory to the World Cup final, it seemed an appropriate time to hang up his playing boots before vulnerable joints or poor form made the decision for him.
As befits one of cricket's quieter leaders, his achievements come almost as a shock. Probably because he has been around for so long, on and off, and representing one of the less successful nations. His ever-present specs and beard, worn long before the current fashion for facial hair took off, gave him a studious air. As a teenage debutant, he looked older than his years, and so was his bowling.
The 362 Test wickets and 305 in ODIs appear feeble in relation to stats boasted by Warne, Murali and Kumble. Yet he is undoubtedly the most successful slow left-arm bowler in international history and when you add the 6,784 runs (excluding T20) he's up there with the best all-rounders. Ian Botham and Kapil Dev are the only other men to have achieved 300 wickets and 4,000 runs in Tests, so for all his lack of fireworks and self-promotion he has played his way into not only the New Zealand record books but the annals of international cricketing history.
In all senior cricket, he played 673 matches, scored more than 11,000 run and snared over 1000 wickets, and that's rare these days. His economy with the ball in limited-overs made him an invaluable member of any T20 attack and it sounds like he will be imparting his knowledge with Brisbane Heat from now on. Brendon McCullum may have signalled a new positive, crowd-pleasing approach to cricket captaincy but the sport still needs its Vettoris, and Daniel the original will be missed.
