Vincent hasn’t been so popular since singer-songwriter Don McLean was in his heyday but everybody was talking about Lou Vincent after his outstanding debut century at Perth’s WACA yesterday
Lynn McConnell01-Dec-2001Vincent hasn’t been so popular since singer-songwriter Don McLean was in his heyday but everybody was talking about Lou Vincent after his outstanding debut century at Perth’s WACA yesterday.The New Zealand Herald: “Lou Vincent made a fairytale start to his test cricket career yesterday when he struck a century on debut to leave New Zealand reasonably placed on the first day of the third and deciding test against Australia.”Vincent, who grew up in Forrest Hill on the North Shore and was striking hundreds as a third former for Westlake Boys High School, became just the sixth New Zealander to score a century on debut when he square drove Australian fast-bowler Jason Gillespie to the boundary shortly after the tea adjournment.”Remarkably, it was the first century scored on debut by a touring player in Australia since the Nawab of Pataudi sen struck 102 in the second test of the Bodyline series in 1932-33, and one of only four after the first-time efforts of Englishmen R.E. Foster in 1903-04 and George Gunn in 1907-08.”The Sydney Morning Herald: “The pre-match warnings of a terror ride for the Kiwis on the best fast bowling strip in the country would have seemed a distant memory for Fleming and Vincent as they went to tea with an impressive partnership of 171 in 207 minutes behind them, with Vincent on 86 and Fleming on 79.”Fleming passed 50 for the 34th time in Tests, contributing a fine captain’s hand with more of the style to suggest he should have converted far more than two of those half-centuries into hundreds.”But the real hero for New Zealand was Vincent, the Auckland-born 23-year-old who was raised in Adelaide and was shaping for a career as an Australian football umpire before cricket took hold.”Known as a middle-order batsman and a hugely talented fieldsman, Vincent was injected into his first Test as opener on this pacemen’s pitch and covered himself in glory.”Peter Roebuck (The Sydney Morning Herald): “It was a remarkable effort. He had done it on a pitch whose bounce has unnerved those unaccustomed to it. He’d done it against a vaunted attack and in the last and decisive match of a series. He’d done it on debut after leaving his usual perch in the middle order, and despite the early departure of his senior partners. It was the innings of a lifetime.”Pressed into service as an opening bat, the 23-year-old showed the temperament and technique of an old hand. No-one had ever doubted his spirit, for he is a sportsman from top to tail and proved it with a diving catch in Brisbane and by his willingness to accept a position in the batting that causes vertigo amongst lesser mortals. That his technique stood the test was more surprising.”At first Vincent did not look like lasting long as he prodded at a few deliveries and almost edged to slip or to fieldsmen placed close by. For 20 minutes he did not score a run. Significantly, Vincent did not panic in this period, instead biding his time with the air of a man with greater plans. Here was a fellow determined to grasp his opportunity. He did not change from first to last and was entirely focused. He was excited by the challenges and unperturbed by the hazards.”The Daily Telegraph: “Australia’s cricketing production line produced another Test match hero – for the wrong team – but it wasn’t enough to stop the locals from storming back to level terms at the WACA.”Adelaide-raised Lou Vincent, who said he had been facing Australia’s bowlers in his dreams, yesterday found them far less fearsome in the flesh when he claimed a stunning debut Test century for New Zealand.”New Zealand were 7-293 at stumps on day one of the Third Test after Vincent (104) and Steve Fleming (105) adding 199 for the third wicket in the most serious resistance Australia had faced since VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid stormed their castle in India.”Australia’s cause was desperate when the Kiwis had waltzed without discomfort to 2-218 but the tourists lost 4-17 just before stumps in the series decider.”Even though Australia’s bowling for most of the day was modest, there was a buoyancy among the Australians as they left the field, as if they had soaked up the tourists best punch and still finished the day a nostril ahead.”The Australian: “Haunting memories of Australia’s heartbreaking defeat in India earlier this year evaporated with the second new ball at Perth’s WACA Ground yesterday after New Zealand’s smiling debutant Lou Vincent and quality captain Stephen Fleming put Australia to the sword on the opening day of the third and final Test.”Both scored centuries before Jason Gillespie (3-79) and Brett Lee (2-89) claimed two wickets each in a stunning late burst which saw New Zealand lose 4-17 to finish 7-293 at stumps, giving Australia the ascendancy they had lacked for most of the day.”After washouts in Brisbane and Hobart, this match will decide the trans-Tasman trophy.”Vincent (104) and Fleming (105) added a third-wicket partnership of 199 in four hours, the highest stand against Australia since VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid put on 376 in Calcutta earlier this year to flip that Test and series on its head.”A 23-year-old middle-order player, Vincent had just one first-class century before yesterday. He was given the opportunity to open in this match when Matthew Bell was dropped.”After batting for 4½ hours, facing 207 balls and hitting 15 fours and a six, Vincent fell in somewhat controversial circumstances. He was given out, caught at first slip by Mark Waugh after driving at a ball which may have turned so far that the right-hander simply missed it and hit the pitch with his bat.”