New Zealand's Cricket World Cup Squad Preview

New Zealand will look to play the good cricket they have been playing and will be seeking to clinch their maiden World Cup title 

A highly underrated team and referred to as the “Dark Horses,” New Zealand is a team which always exceeds everyone’s expectations and always manages to reach the Semi-Finals of the World Cup. They have never been regarded as favourites in any of the World Cups, but still, have managed to play 6 Semi-Finals and 1 final. They have never been champions but as the year's progress, the New Zealand team gets better and better inching close towards the prestigious World Cup title. This time around they are not favourites to lift the trophy but they possess a team that can easily outplay any team on any day. We saw that in the warm-up games when they trumped India to win by 6 wickets comfortably. Their squad is a formidable one and what this team has is experience among the players. Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, all of them know how to deliver on the big stage.

They have one opener in Martin Guptill and they may choose to go either with Colin Munro or Henry Nicholls. Considering that Munro is the number 2 ranked t20i batman and the pitches will be flat, this might give Munro the slight edge over Nicholls. But, the 2 rocks for New Zealand are Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor at number 3 and number 4. They steady the ship, laying the platform for players like Tom Latham and Jimmy Neesham to tonk the ball to all parts of the ground in the final stages of the innings. Since Tom Latham is injured, Tom Blundell will play in his spot at number 5 for the first few initial matches. Blundell has shown his worth by notching up a century against West Indies in the warmup games. If New Zealand wishes to play with more bowling option then, Neesham might be seen at 6 and de Grandhomme at 7 or otherwise Nicholls might play at 6 with either of Grandhomme or Neesham at 7. 

Mitchell Santner, the left-arm spinner will make an appearance at number 8 and if required he too can slog in the last overs. New Zealand will definitely play their experienced campaigners, Tim Southee and Trent Boult. If overcast conditions and extra pace and bounce is offered, then these 2 are lethal and have the potential to wipe out the opposing team’s top-order batsmen. If the pitch is dry and offers turn then Ish Sodhi is likely to play for the last spot otherwise if  extra bounce is seen then New Zealand has the option of playing either Matt Henry or Lockie Ferguson. 

Probable playing xi - 

Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tom Blundell, Henry Nicholls, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult. 


Interesting facts about the New Zealand Cricket team - 

• After Australia, New Zealand has the most wins in World Cup history (48).

• Tom Blundell, New Zealand’s backup wicketkeeper is the only wicketkeeper in the history of the game to make an appearance in a World Cup squad without having played even one game for his country. 

•  New Zealand has lost most number of World Cup semi-finals (6 in total - in 1975, 1979, 1992, 1999, 2007 and 2011). The most by any team. 

•  New Zealand’s, Martin Guptill has the record of hitting the second fastest double century in World Cup History( Against West Indies in 2015).

My Prediction- 

• New Zealand has a strong unit and definitely have the potential to finish in the top 4. They will have a tough fight with South Africa and I feel they will finish 4th place on the points table.