Vincent's Mixed Emotions
[BBC Sport Online] | [Original
Article]
Kiwi opener Lou Vincent ran the full gamut of emotions on day one
in the deciding Perth Test.
The debutant hit a century, but after getting out had to watch a procession
of his team-mates being dismissed cheaply as the second new ball did the
damage.
New Zealand lost four wickets for 17 late in the day to finish at 293
for seven.
"I had mixed emotions at the end there," said Vincent, who hit
15 fours and one six in his 104 off 207 balls.
"I was hoping we would finish with only a maximum of five down. Seven
down is a bit of a kick in the gut.
"I guess it's a special day. I had a hundred in mind."
New Zealand were outplayed in the first two drawn Tests, which they would
surely lost but for rain.
And they dropped Matthew Bell, replacing him with the Auckland opener
Vincent, but the 23-year-old did not have the easiest start to his Test
career. He lost Mark Richardson for nine and Mathew Sinclair for just
two with only 19 runs on the board. Then he added 199 for the third wicket
with his captain Stephen Fleming (105).
"It doesn't matter what level of cricket you play, you want to do
well," he said. "Walking out today, there was definitely a few
nerves there.
"That first ball... I thought it might be up around the rib cage
or the helmet but it wasn't to be.
"I played and missed and I thought well I didn't nick it so it could
be my day, so keep going."
Vincent was raised in South Australia before returning to New Zealand,
and he has become the sixth player to make a century on debut for the
Kiwis. "I just try to keep it simple and do the hard work at training
and stuff and learn from the other guys around me.
"It was good to nick a couple over the top and get three figures."
Vincent said, batting was hard work against the Australian pace attack
who bowled to three slips and two gullies for much of the day.
"I was expecting a few more bumpers, definitely," Vincent said.
"I think whatever comes down, you have to be at your best and play
it well.
"At the end of the day winning does count. It will mean a lot to
me if we can get through these five days and get a result."
New Zealand: Centurions on debut
Mathew Sinclair: 214 v West Indies, Wellington, 1999-00
John Mills: 117 v England, Wellington, 1929-30
Mark Greatbatch: 107 v England, Auckland, 1987-88
Rodney Redmond: 107 v Pakistan, 1972-73, Auckland
Bruce Taylor: 105 v India, 1964-65, Calcutta
Lou Vincent: 104 v Australia, Perth, 2001-02
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