'I thought my first call-up was a prank'
Lou Vincent remembers the phone call that invited him to the New Zealand side
Interview by Jack Wilson
03-Mar-2013
Play it again, Lou • Associated Press
First bat I owned
I remember I had a Gunn and Moore really early on, after I'd just started school. I was probably about four years old at the time. I think I timed everything off it straightaway too... maybe.
I remember I had a Gunn and Moore really early on, after I'd just started school. I was probably about four years old at the time. I think I timed everything off it straightaway too... maybe.
First six
I was six and I was playing for my school in Takapuna, New Zealand. I swiped it over cow corner. It was nothing too glamorous but it went all the way.
I was six and I was playing for my school in Takapuna, New Zealand. I swiped it over cow corner. It was nothing too glamorous but it went all the way.
First autograph
When I was young I watched a lot of cricket. I remember getting Chris Pringle's autograph in New Zealand pretty early on but the first one I actually got was that of Brian Lara. I was out in Adelaide watching the West Indies and he was playing for them then. It's not a bad first autograph to get.
When I was young I watched a lot of cricket. I remember getting Chris Pringle's autograph in New Zealand pretty early on but the first one I actually got was that of Brian Lara. I was out in Adelaide watching the West Indies and he was playing for them then. It's not a bad first autograph to get.
First time I was called up to the national side
I got a call over the phone and I thought it was a prank at first. I didn't believe it was actually happening. It came pretty much out of the blue for me. I was playing okay at the time but my first reaction was that of shock. You couldn't see who the call was from either - we didn't have mobiles back in those days. I thought maybe one of my mates might be mucking about but fortunately it wasn't.
I got a call over the phone and I thought it was a prank at first. I didn't believe it was actually happening. It came pretty much out of the blue for me. I was playing okay at the time but my first reaction was that of shock. You couldn't see who the call was from either - we didn't have mobiles back in those days. I thought maybe one of my mates might be mucking about but fortunately it wasn't.
First time I got hit where it hurts
The first blow that really hurt me was actually one to my chin when I was 18. People say it's massive anyway, so I suppose it won't surprise that many people. It was a bouncer from Paul Franks, who's now at Nottinghamshire, and I just couldn't get out the way of it. It caused me a bit of pain for a few days after that.
The first blow that really hurt me was actually one to my chin when I was 18. People say it's massive anyway, so I suppose it won't surprise that many people. It was a bouncer from Paul Franks, who's now at Nottinghamshire, and I just couldn't get out the way of it. It caused me a bit of pain for a few days after that.