Lou Vincent gets 100th New Zealand ODI cap
Former New Zealand international Lou Vincent was presented with a special cap earlier this month to commemorate his 100th ODI appearance, almost 17 years after the milestone in 2007. Sir Richard Hadlee presented the cap to Vincent at a small ceremony in Auckland attended by Vincent’s family and some former teammates.
It was a great way to be recognised for my cricket career, and to be able to use this night as an opportunity to say a huge thank you to the people who have been with me through the good times and the tough times,” Vincent told The Post. It was a truly memorable, special night with some lovely words spoken.
Banned for life
Lou Vincent, who scored 2413 runs in 102 ODIs, also played 23 Tests and nine T20Is between 2001 and 2007. He then played in the now-defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL) and continued in the domestic circuit until 2014, when he was banned for life for corrupt activities in the county circuit.
The past is the past,” Vincent said in Auckland. “It’s a great thing that I had such huge support for the application to appeal the ban and there was no opposition from the ECB, they totally respected the work I did behind the scenes over the last few years and used my experiences in educating the next generation of players.
Former chairman of selectors
NZC chief executive Scott Weenink said the board had been holding on to Vincent’s commemorative cap for “probably 13 years”. The reality is, you can’t forget exactly what he did and he would be the first to admit that, but he has atoned for himself and nobody else has done as much to fight match-fixing as he has, by speaking out so openly and revealing everything he knew, Weenink said. “When the opportunity came, it was really the least we could do by giving him his cap.
I was able to say to him ‘Richard, you are New Zealand cricket, you are the best player ever, you have achieved so much, and for you to take the time to come to Auckland and present me with this cap is very humbling and shows what a great person you are,’ Vincent said. And he was in tears. Sir Richard Hadlee was in tears!
Men’s mental health
Vincent played his 100th ODI in Cape Town in December 2007, where he scored 18 runs and also took his only ODI wicket, dismissing Jacques Kallis. Now 45, Vincent is slowly making a comeback to cricket and recently played for Seddon Cricket Club and featured in a five-day match to raise awareness of men’s mental health.
Life goes on and mine has too. I’ve been blessed with a young son, and I have two daughters who are teenagers. Getting the opportunity to start a family again and settle down in the Far North and live life on the beach – a simple life – that’s all I’m focused on now, Vincent said. Also in attendance were Vincent’s mother and siblings, as well as his fiancée Jillie Hart (they plan to marry this summer) and their three-month-old son Vinnie.
Vincent, who lives in Northland, said
In an interview with The Post, Vincent, who lives in Northland, said: It was a lovely way to be recognised for my cricket career, and to be able to use this night to say a huge thank you to the people who have been with me through my good times and the tough times. It was a really memorable, special night with some lovely words spoken.
None more so than Hadlee, the former chairman of selectors who picked Vincent for the Black Caps in 2001 when he scored a memorable Test century on debut in Perth.
Richard Hadlee broke down in tears
I was able to say to him: ‘Richard, you are New Zealand cricket, you are our best player ever, you have achieved so much, and for you to take the time to come to Auckland and give me this cap is very humbling and shows what a great person you are.’ He broke down in tears – Sir Richard Hadlee broke down in tears! It was a really powerful night.
Vincent played his 100th ODI against South Africa in Cape Town in December 2007, when he was run out for 18 off Dale Steyn, then claimed Jacques Kallis as his only ODI wicket. He made his final appearance for New Zealand later that month.
Conclusion
Lou Vincent will never forget the scene where Sir Richard Hadlee was in tears as he awarded Vincent his 100th New Zealand ODI cap, nearly 17 years after he achieved the feat.
Vincent, whose life ban from cricket for match-fixing was lifted in December, finally received his commemorative cap at a dinner hosted by New Zealand Cricket earlier this month.
Hadlee accepted NZC chief executive Scott Wennink’s offer to present the cap to a small gathering of about 25 friends and family members, including NZC chairman Martin Snedden and Vincent’s former teammates Dion Nash, Robbie Hart and Joey Yovich.
