The Special All-rounders’ Club – 500 runs and 50 wickets in a calendar year

#5 Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)

Vettori at one point looked like the player who would join Kapil Dev as the only all-rounder with the 5000 runs – 400 wickets double. But, injuries didn’t let him achieve that. Nevertheless, Vettori had an excellent 2008 when he scored 672 runs at 35.36 and picked up 54 wickets at 26.12 with five five-wicket hauls.

New Zealand’s understated former skipper played only 2 of those 14 matches in the sub-continent. The other 12 were in New Zealand, Australia and England, which show the class of the man, known for the guile, deception and discipline of his left arm orthodox spin.