New Zealand has a remarkable track record in white-ball ICC events, consistently reaching the semifinals of almost every tournament. This impressive streak highlights their prowess in limited-overs cricket. However, the one exception to this trend was in 2017 during the Champions Trophy when they couldn't make it to the last four, which was a rare stumble for them.
Despite their consistent semifinal appearances, New Zealand has faced heartbreak in some tournaments by narrowly missing out on the ultimate prize. Reaching the finals back to back and yet being unable to secure victory has been a bitter pill to swallow for the Kiwis. This history of coming close but falling short in the final stage has left fans and experts wondering if the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup will be the turning point for them.
Here’s a look at the squad first:
Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.
One look at the squad and you will realise that this is very different from the group that has played in the recent past. For one, Kane Williamson has literally raced against time to recover from the injury that he sustained during the opening game of the IPL. Then there’s the return of players like Boult and Neesham who have become t20 freelancers in the recent times.
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Any regular fan would write them off owing to the fact that this group of players haven’t played together in a long while and are having fitness concerns at the same time. But then this is New Zealand. They know how to punch above their weight and I back them to do so again this time. In addition to all this, NZ enjoy an amazing track record in India in ICC events. They have made it to the QFs in the 1996 edition, SFs in the 2011 edition and SFs again in the 2016 t20 WC. This is some record for team that finds these conditions completely alien.
Two players who will definitely be on my radar are Devon Conway and Mitchell Santner. Conway's batting style and his knack for grinding it out make him a valuable asset for New Zealand, particularly in the current conditions. On the other hand, Santner's precision with the ball and his ability to contribute effectively in the lower order position him as the ideal utility player, slotting in at number 7 for the team.
With such a talented squad, New Zealand can no longer be touted as dark horses for a tournament like earlier times. Given their track record in the last 8-10 years, they have really come a long way. It won’t come as a surprise if they manage to cross the hurdle this time around.
