Iain O'Brien - New Zealand's brave Knight

[rahuldravidfan]

Another component of New Zealand's four-man attack, Iain O'Brien, had suffered an injury as the situation was growing increasingly tense. Umar, before his dismissal, had hammered the ball back at O'Brien, dislocating the bowler's finger as he attempted a tough return catch. He needed treatment and the physio spent a few minutes trying to straighten his digit.

"I saw the pain he [O'Brien] was in, his eyes welled up, so he must have been in agony, and also it [the finger] was out of place," Vettori said. "He had a tough time in the first innings, [so] for him to bounce back and bowl as well as that showed a lot of heart.

"I've always backed Ober [O'Brien], I've always liked the way he bowls, liked the effort he brings to a game. He always wants the ball, you saw the turnaround from the first innings. I probably bowled him a little bit too much, kept him a bit fresher in this one and he responded. That spell with him and Shane after tea was the real difference."

It was Kamran's wicket, lbw O'Brien, to a delivery which cut back sharply that Vettori singled out as "the one where everyone started to believe" New Zealand could win. From thereon, though Pakistan's tail resisted, it was only a matter of time and it was Vettori who mopped up the last two wickets to secure a 32-run win.

Read more - I saw the pain O'Brien was in - Vettori | Cricket News | New Zealand v Pakistan 2009-10 | Cricinfo.com

A pretty brave thing to do. I really respect the bloke. He's got a big heart and is a very tough cookie. Great fast bowler. Good times for NZ's bowling dept

 

[pcfan123]

I would not call O'Briend a "great" fast bowler. He has a long way to go to imrpove, usually he is fighting for his spot every match he plays in. Average of above 35 and strike rate of above 62 is not "great"

Calling everyone who performs well on 1 given day "great" really diminishes the value of the term.

All that being said his Blogging skills are decent

 

[rahuldravidfan]

Blah. "Great"... a bit of Englishness rubbing onto to me, I say

And agreed, he is a more than decent blogger

 

[aussie1st]

Good on him, hes got the "team comes first" mentality.
He seems to be a decent enough bowler, he always seems to be in the wickets for NZ when I see the scorecards.

 

[rahuldravidfan]

Agreed Syl. The man's got a big heart. He had got Sachin out when we toured NZ and bowled decent spells throughout the series. One of the better bowlers coming out of New Zealand I believe

 

[-D-S-B-]

He is a guy who only plays for the team.
He picked the job of running into the wind and gives it 100% every game.
He also thinks he's in the form of his life so i hope to see more good bowling from him

 

[TumTum]

Why don't you do an article about Hughes while you at it

 

[-D-S-B-]

BTW Iain not Ian