New Zealand preview - ICC T20 World Cup 2022
SpeakingNick's preview of ICC ranked #3 New Zealand.
New Zealand
New Zealand (the Black Caps) — last years beaten finalists, will start their 2022 campaign against Australia tomorrow at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Most pundits have the Black Caps outside the top four, and I have to agree. A fast start in the Super 12s section will be imperative to their chances.
They tell me the air is always clear in Aotearoa, and that it has no hesitation in shaping innovative thinkers.
As a country, New Zealand (NZ) is one of the great exporters of talent. Boardrooms across the globe are full of wandering Kiwis — and cricket is no exception — many high-profile ex-players are, or have been in, dressing rooms across the world. Daniel Vettori will be in the opposite dugout on Saturday. Brendon McCullum has already fostered a dramatic change in England’s Test cricket. To name just two.
New Zealand’s current coach, Gary Stead, is cut from precisely the cloth they prefer. Carrying a low-key persona, entering coaching from a nondescript playing career, and one who turns his nose up to ultra-professionalism. Stead is going to be challenged at this tournament, and it will be interesting to see what his team has up its sleeve.
Black Cap supporters fear not, this tribe always have a bunny to pull - just ask Mark Greatbatch and Dipak Patel!
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Batting
Will the veteran Martin Guptill be able to produce the fireworks needed at the top of the order? Is newcomer Finn Allen ready for a tournament like this, specifically Australia’s bowling attack in game one? Will it be the pilot role for Kane Williamson, and can Daryl Mitchell regain fitness in time? All questions to ponder.
Martin Guptill is one of those NZ exports, having plied his trade across many continents. A veteran of the IPL, having played with four separate franchises; a regular visitor to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and stints in English county cricket. Guptill is a sweet swinger and a deadly ball striker when he is on. His step-hit play to spin is excellent, and quicks he handles from both feet - it's just his early balls that are an issue. Maybe Finn Allen can alleviate some of this? Allen is young and aggressive - fast starts will give Guptill time to settle. We shall see. Allen will provide candid viewing.
Kane Williamson — not normally a player you would look up stats on — shows a definite bias toward red-ball cricket. Averaging 50-plus in Test cricket is elite, agreed. Williamson does this. Averaging over 45 in ODI cricket is also elite, agreed, ditto. Yet, his T20I numbers sit in the average bracket: 2225 runs at a 32 average, with a 123 strike-rate. Agreed, in the average band. Also, he has not made a hundred in his 81 games. Williamson’s great skill in this format is gap-hitting and rotation of the strike. His contact points are super consistent, and the bat face is nearly always square to the target line. Williamson plays a role in this format, and an important one.
Three batters sit ahead of Williamson in the ICC T20I rankings: Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, and Martin Guptill. Actually, my mistake, it’s four with Finn Allen, the rookie also heading Williamson. Anyway, Conway, Phillips, and Guptill will all be charged with elevating New Zealand's current par score in T20I - which sits around 165 - to be competitive, they have to be looking at 180, and beyond.
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Bowling
Trent Boult is once again set to lead the attack. There are several variations to his signature delivery, which involves intricate lateral movement through the air. He continues to be a troublesome proposition for opposition batsmen. Boult is likely to bowl powerplay overs, as well as looking to break partnerships through the middle of the innings.
Opposition analysts are likely to have Tim Southee in their sights. He still plays all formats, a creditable achievement for the 33-year-old, yet he looks vulnerable in this setup. Southee's ball-speed sits right in the sweet spot of optimal hitting pace, and his change-ups are missing some of their old disguise. He will do well to maintain his current economy rate of 8.26 - the most optimal trade off will be continuing a strong strike rate, which currently sits at 18 ball per wicket.
Lachlan Ferguson will provide pace, and plenty of it. The solidly built right-arm quick will rely on raw speed and steep bounce. His numbers stack up well: an economy rate of 6.8, and a strike rate of just over 14. He will be hoping to maintain that form. Jimmy Neesham (Twitter star), and to a lesser extent, Daryl Mitchell, will provide medium-pace back-up.
New Zealand's spin bowling looks critical to their overall bowling plan. As a team they play really solid defence, with fielding being a key component. Spin provides their fielding with opportunities to shine. Mitchell Santner provides left-arm orthodox; Michael Bracewell is a fast-improving right-arm off-spinner; and the joker in the pack is Ish Sodhi, with his right-arm leg spin. It's likely they do not play as a trio, however, they give New Zealand solid rotation options.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Martin Guptill, Lachlan Ferguson, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Trent Boult, Finn Allen.
That’s it for New Zealand. Roll on tomorrow …
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