The winners of the maiden ICC Test Championship, the finalists of the 2019 and the 2015 World Cup Final. If you don’t think New Zealand are contenders to lift the T20 World Cup, then you have been living under a rock. They have one of the most settled squads across all formats in modern day cricket. And of course, they have a genius of a player and captain both in one person - Kane Williamson.
Even though the conditions might not be fully suited for New Zealand’s game considering the conditions in Qatar. However New Zealand have a seriously delicious mix of both experience and some raw youth talent. Yes, they have a history of losing it, especially during the big moments. But hey this is not that team and this definitely is not that captain. He is captain cool and cucumber - Mr Kane Williamson - adored by millions but hated by none. It is that simple.
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New Zealand’s Top Order - A worry for most teams
There are very few teams in the tournament that can boast of having a more experienced and talented top order than the Kiwis. They have Martin Guptill in the top order and he is one of the best batsmen in the shortest format there is. And he has been playing since a long while and might just have participated in all the T20 World Cups so far.
If he gets in the groove in any match, it’s all curtains for the opposition no matter who they are. They also have Glenn Philips who has played T20 leagues all across the world and is a very successful and experienced T20 campaigner. And then they have the one and only - Mr Kane Williamson. He is one of the best batsmen in the world, no matter what the conditions, bowler, situation or the opposition. Period.
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New Zealand’s all round ability and depth in the middle and lower middle order
They have a good middle order with some very explosive batsmen and also some very experienced all rounders. Few batsmen in the world have been in a sublime form across all formats than Devon Conway. Mark Chapman, Tim Siefert, Daryl Mitchell & Jimmy Neesham are players that can clear the biggest boundaries in the world with ease. And boy they don’t need to get settled or used to the crease.
They can start the hammering from ball 1. They also have some good bowling all rounders that gives New Zealand an extra foil of depth in their batting. Kyle Jamieson, Mitch Santner and even Tim Southee are all bowlers who are very good with the bat and can bear the long handle and clear boundaries at will.
Best Bowling Attack in the tournament
Yes, we actually said it and totally meant it. As the tournament progresses, you will come back and realise that yes, we actually were speaking the truth. When you have a very experienced yet fiery bowling attack that has Boult, Southee & Lockie Ferguson in it, you know the batsman are going to have a tough time scoring runs. Let alone scoring runs fast which is the requirement of this format. Expect a lot of pin point yorkers, some unplayable corkers & some very smart change-ups from this lot.
Add to that a 6ft 8 inches bowling all-rounder who can get good bounce and movement from any pitch in the world. And if the pace department does not get you, the spin department definitely will. Mitchell Santner & Ish Sodhi are the best spin bowling twins in the world currently and they are very hard to put away. All in all, like we said earlier, New Zealand have the best bowling attack in the tournament by a distance.
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New Zealand’s Squad for the T20 World Cup:
Kane Williamson (capt), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Adam Milne (injury cover)