While standing in the middle umpires get a close up look at the next generation of talented cricketers. Former international umpire Doug Cowie was the man in the middle for Daniel Vettori’s debut Test in 1997 and reflects on how he got the opportunity to watch the master of spin grow and develop into the world class player he is today.
Vettori had only just turned 18 when he made his debut for New Zealand and for Cowie; it was the first of many Tests he umpired with Vettori involved. Cowie said he didn’t really know who the youngster was, but had heard good things. “I had heard from my cricket mates at Northern Districts that here was someone special,” Cowie reminisced. “So I expected the ability but not the image – rather more scholarly than sports star – which only proves the first rule of people management; don’t make prejudgements based on appearances.”
Cowie quietly watched the youngster spin the ball with precision and was thrilled to be part of Vettori’s Test debut. Cowie has umpired Vettori at a Test level seven times, more than any other New Zealand Cricket umpire. “Dan was a quietly determined bowler who always knew what he was doing – but a very studious batsman – he seemed to sniff the ball with suspicion and avoid it if he could until someone bowled one in his zone,” Cowie said.
“He is now one of the best ever – probably the best at control, subtle variation and certainly better against better batsmen than those who have no idea of the art of spin, flight and variation.”
Cowie has had the opportunity to see other spin bowlers up close, like Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan and he puts the BLACKCAPS captain in the same stead as these master spinners. “I think he is one of the best of my era – Warne, Dan then Murili,” he said. “He doesn’t rip through batsmen with unplayable deliveries but he is the master of subtle changes that are the real challenge for both batsman and umpire.”
The public also now have the chance to see what umpires see with the introduction of the Decision Review System. Cowie believes in turn, this technology will prove to the public how deceptive Vettori is with his bowling. “The Decision Review System with its video analysis has exposed his subtle deception that sometimes is only known by Dan himself,” he said. “Now he could get even more wickets as technology detects what umpires suspected but are now more confident and aware of just what he is capable of bowling.
“I would love to be able to programme a bowling machine to ‘think’ like him – and then ordinary batsmen might have a chance to learn to cope.”
Vettori had only just turned 18 when he made his debut for New Zealand and for Cowie; it was the first of many Tests he umpired with Vettori involved. Cowie said he didn’t really know who the youngster was, but had heard good things. “I had heard from my cricket mates at Northern Districts that here was someone special,” Cowie reminisced. “So I expected the ability but not the image – rather more scholarly than sports star – which only proves the first rule of people management; don’t make prejudgements based on appearances.”
Cowie quietly watched the youngster spin the ball with precision and was thrilled to be part of Vettori’s Test debut. Cowie has umpired Vettori at a Test level seven times, more than any other New Zealand Cricket umpire. “Dan was a quietly determined bowler who always knew what he was doing – but a very studious batsman – he seemed to sniff the ball with suspicion and avoid it if he could until someone bowled one in his zone,” Cowie said.
“He is now one of the best ever – probably the best at control, subtle variation and certainly better against better batsmen than those who have no idea of the art of spin, flight and variation.”
Cowie has had the opportunity to see other spin bowlers up close, like Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan and he puts the BLACKCAPS captain in the same stead as these master spinners. “I think he is one of the best of my era – Warne, Dan then Murili,” he said. “He doesn’t rip through batsmen with unplayable deliveries but he is the master of subtle changes that are the real challenge for both batsman and umpire.”
The public also now have the chance to see what umpires see with the introduction of the Decision Review System. Cowie believes in turn, this technology will prove to the public how deceptive Vettori is with his bowling. “The Decision Review System with its video analysis has exposed his subtle deception that sometimes is only known by Dan himself,” he said. “Now he could get even more wickets as technology detects what umpires suspected but are now more confident and aware of just what he is capable of bowling.
“I would love to be able to programme a bowling machine to ‘think’ like him – and then ordinary batsmen might have a chance to learn to cope.”
