BLACKCAPS captain Daniel Vettori thought the Pearls Cup series against Sri Lanka was a success despite low scoring games.
The two Twenty20 matches were the first to be played in the US by two full members of the ICC with the series drawn after the BLACKCAPS defended 120 runs in the first match and then Sri Lanka chased down 82 in the second.
Speaking from Florida at the conclusion of the series Vettori said he would be advocating for future tours of America and spreading the word among other Test playing nations.
“It has certainly given USA cricket a profile and I think that’s the biggest thing to come from that. Both teams really enjoyed coming here.
“In the future, we will talk to other players around the world and will tell them what a good a time we had. Tell them how good the facilities are and you will get other teams coming along and enjoying it just as much as we did. USA cricket has come a long way just from this week or so.”
After the match ESPN asked if he had a message for other Test playing nations who are considering a tour of the US and he quipped: “They’ll probably have to get in line behind us. Everyone’s really enjoyed it and I couldn’t speak highly enough of it.”
“It’s a beautiful ground and it’s been well supported. I’d come back anytime,” he added.
Vettori picked up the man-of-the-series award for his miserly bowling and two batting performances that rescued his team after early collapses.
“I can play spin and these sorts of conditions you are going to face a lot of spin bowlers, a lot of medium paced bowlers. Over the last couple of years I’ve tried to develop that style of my game,” he said. “I think having a comfort level and a bit of confidence in those situations has helped me.”
The BLACKCAPS have a break before they tour Sri Lanka at the end of July and Vettori is keen for the team to take some time away from cricket.
“We have been going non-stop for nine or ten months so I think everyone is due a break and we have got to make sure that we use this break to try and improve as a side and when we go to Sri Lanka we are ready to try and win over there,” he concluded.
