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New zealand's bright spark made it a dark day for England. Of Mediterranean complexion and with a shock of coarse hair, Daniel Vettori captured the initiative and the imagination for the tourists with belligerent batting and tantalising bowling.

Of Milanese extraction, he belies his unkempt image, playing a heady game laced with purpose and passion. His quickfire 50, played predominantly off the back foot, was the ostentatious half of yesterday's contribution, converting a below-par batting position into one of moderate respectability.

More importantly, it gave a vital lift to his side who had dined the night before in the doldrums. Last phases of innings are so influential in governing team morale.

Vettori's bowling was more critical to England's latest demise, however. After a few overs from the quicker men with the new ball, the left-arm spinner shut down the Pavilion End for four hours, broken only by the tea interval.

Two for 44 from 31 overs might not look much, but this sustained spell gave Kiwi skipper Stephen Fleming many more options, allowing him to rotate his seamers downwind. Vettori turned the screw while Cairns, Nash and O'Connor drove the nails in. England obligingly lay down when asked.

A life in sleepy Hamilton has doused Vettori's innate Latin exuberance, though it surfaces occasionally. His jig of delight having taken Stewart's wicket and the howl of anguish when Ramprakash was dropped smacked of Alessandro Del Piero's passionate striking for Juventus. In spite of Vettori's exemplary patience, you sensed there was a more expansive soul trying to get out.

His considerable variations of pace, from a looping 46mph floater to a swinging 60mph dart, and the frequent attempts at a classic pitch-leg hit-off delivery, are all part of his irresistible quest for the perfect ball. He has not based himself on anyone, declaring: ``People say I bowl a bit like Hedley Howarth, but I never saw him play. Left-arm spinners aren't really the thing in New Zealand and there's no one much to talk to.''

He is self-made, though he did concede that his home pitch in Hamilton had a similar spongy bounce to the Oval, and that he was fresher than most because he hadn't played in the World Cup. He is certainly a wonderful asset whose youth masks an excellent comprehension of the game.

This Test,like several others in the last 12 months, is heading for an early weekend finish. Maybe Channel 4 should change their mantra to ``Cricket just got shorter''.