A wily slow left-arm bowler, Daniel Vettori is one of the finest players to play for New Zealand.

At 18, Vettori was the youngest to play Test cricket for his country and the mastery of his spin bowling made him one of the most potent bowlers in international cricket.

He took 362 Test wickets for the Kiwis in 113 matches, with an impressive average of 34.36. In ODIs, Vettori has a further 305 wickets in 295 matches with best bowling figures of 5 for 7.

But Vettori wasn’t just a bowler, he was a fine lower-order batsman too and ended his career as a genuine all-rounder. His contributions on numerous occasions helped New Zealand get over the line.

Possibly Vettori’s greatest asset, however, was his brain, and he is known as one of the greatest captains of his generation.

Other sport stars born on this day

1983: Gavin Floyd, American professional baseball pitcher, played in MLS for the Philadelphia Phillies and many other teams.

1974: Former Sri Lankan left-arm pace bowler, known for his excellence in swing and seam bowling.

1981: Alicia Molik, former Australian Tennis player.