World cup is around the corner. The biggest tournament of cricket will commence from 5 october 2023.
Cricket experts from various countries have started to pick their favorites and top 4 teams who will be competing each other in semifinals. But to no one surprise, you will not find one team name in there, no matter how well they perform.
Inspite of being the runner up and if not for the unfair superover tied rule, which was eventually changed, Newzealand could have definitely clunch on to their first ever World Cup title.
Here we list the top 3 reasons, cricket experts should consider that Newzealand is as dangerous team as Australia or England or India when it comes to the 50 over World Cup :-
1) Superb Pace trio – Trent Boult earlier has requested not to be part of Newzealand central cricket contract to give him the freedom to play franchise cricket, but that doesn’t mean the dangerous left armer will not be playing the World Cup in India.
He has already made it clear that he indeed will be bowling his lethal inswining deliveries in World Cup. Along with him, they have Matt Henry and Lockie Fergusan.
This pace trio of Boult, Matt Henry and Fergusan is capable of challenging any batting line up in the World and the same pace trio played in 2019 World cup semifinal against India and we all know the result.
Matt henry with his height and action can be the game changer all of a sudden if he gets some swing and Lockie Fergusan is not just speed, he has good range of variations with slow bouncer which deceived M.S Dhoni in semifinal, slow yorkers and fast inswining yorkers.
He has the right head over his shoulders and good range of variations to aid his real fast bowling deliveries.
2) The underrated Santner – Mitchell Santner is that kind of player who doesn’t get lot of hype and is very widely underrated.
There is a reason he has been playing for Chennai Super Kings for quite a while and the reason is quality in his bowling.
Even MS Dhoni does not hesitate in praising him that he is World class and is very smart and thinking cricketer.
Santner is a bowler who can be called as tactician. He uses the small steps making in to the bowling crease, all the time thinking where to bowl and that also that provides him with greater control.
Not only he has superb control over his line and length, he is quite a handy batter, but in bowling he knows how to adjust and to hit him requires really good batting as he will not give a inch away.
While the cricket world discusses Rashid Khan, Mujeeb, Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, Santner with no one talking about him gets the job done for his team.
He got Rishabh Pant out and Hardik Pandya too in the World Cup semifinal 2019. If needed they can also chip in Ish Sodhi if wicket is suiting the spinners. So plenty of options for kiwis.
3) Solid batting line up – The only thing which is not in the favour of kiwis is the name of Kane Williamson in World Cup squad is not confirmed after he suffered a knee injury in IPL, but if we leave aside Kane which in itself is a huge blow, Newzealand has all the talent in the World to make up for it.
They have very good batsman who can not only play long innings but with good strike rate.
Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips and dangerous Daryl Mitchell with Santner coming down the order gives Newzealand a solid middle order.
In top order they have Devon Conway who is just the right player for 50 overs format. He knows how to pace his innings and get to big scores. To support him, Latham and Finn Allen that are also equally good players.
If Kane Williamson makes it to the playing 11 in the later half of the tournament, this team is looking invincible and will require the 100% from the opponent team to stand any chance against them.
In no way, this is weaker batting line up and the wound of not being able to win the World Cup last time, will only bring the best out of these players as they are hunger to win the first ever World cup for their country.
