Copyright Independent Newspapers, Ltd. Nov 25, 2005
LOU VINCENT isn't everyone's cup of tea. Too flighty for some, too hit-and-miss for others.
But if you've never been part of the Vincent fan club, give yourself another six months before you give up for good.
For the first time in his career, Vincent starts a home summer as an established member of the New Zealand test and one-day set-ups.
This time last year he was playing his ninth club game for Takapuna, was worried about scoring runs for Auckland and had that age-old question mark next to his name on the national selection panel's blackboard.
"I'm not sure if `established' is the right word but it's been a while since I've been in this position, where you go into a series with a few runs behind you," Vincent said ahead of the Chappell- Hadlee one-day series opener against Australia in Auckland on December 3.
"It's a nice feeling and I'm happy with my batting, now I just need to keep it going.
"Looking back on my career, I cringe about the way I played at times, but at 22 coming into the team and trying to learn the game was hard.
"Coming back more experienced I just feel a better player. More fine-tuned, older and better."
Vincent topped the one-day batting averages in South Africa with 167 runs at 41.75.
He scored 90 at Cape Town and 66 in the final match in Centurion, innings that had a certain precarious quality about them.
Always ready with a quip, Vincent disputes a reference to chasing the South African bowlers from ball one at Centurion.
"I went too hard too early in Port Elizabeth and paid the price, so I actually waited until the sixth ball at Centurion."
Vincent, 27, maintains he is batting to a plan when he heads to the middle.
"If we've lost a wicket with the power plays still in place I can come out and establish a run rate and if I'm still in, when the field is out, I can milk it around.
"John Bracewell (coach) has given me a good role at the top, to play it how I see it and let the natural shots come out.
"I'm to use my judgment and my instinct. I'm always going to be an attacking player so it's good being told to go and play with confidence."
Much has been made of Vincent's return from the international wilderness last summer. He admits the time out allowed him to develop some consistency.
But if one innings made him feel more at home at the top level it was a swashbuckling 40 off 33 balls in the third test loss to Australia at Eden Park toward the end of last summer.
New Zealand were sliding to defeat but for 55 minutes Vincent carted Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz to all parts.
"During that series I was trying to bat time and when you do that you just get worked over -- you have to put pressure on their bowlers.
"That innings could be a turning point in my international rebirth. I got 63 in Wellington but up in Auckland I took it to them.
"All of sudden I got a short one and a half-volley and I thought, `See what happens when you have intent'.
"That started things off. Having a beer with the Aussies after that day they said, `We didn't know what to do', so that gave me a bit of encouragement.".
A fortnight later Vincent scored 232 against Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve.
That knock came in the middle order but a few months later the unthinkable happened -- Vincent was back opening in test matches, against Zimbabwe.
Vincent is reluctant to get bogged down on the issue with the next test still three and a bit months away (against the West Indies), though he tosses in he will be batting at No 4 for Auckland in the first-class competition.
"Who knows what is going to happen this summer. There are some smart heads in the New Zealand set-up -- they are looking to make sure they get the right balance but it's a long way away to the test matches."
