New Zealand Cricket Team: A Dark Horse in World Cup 2023

New Zealand, the runners-up of the last two editions of the ODI World Cup, are one of the dark horses to win the trophy in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Led by the classy Kane Williamson, the team has a blend of experience and youth, and a lot of depth and skill. In this blog post, we will look at some of the key players, hidden gems, and records of the New Zealand team, as well as some fantasy tips for the cricket lovers.

Key Players

Kane Williamson (c): The captain and the backbone of the team, Williamson is one of the best batsmen in the world across formats. He has a sublime technique, a calm temperament, and a wide range of shots. He can anchor the innings, rotate the strike, and accelerate when needed. He has scored 6,554 runs in 156 ODIs at an average of 47.83 and a strike rate of 82.32, with 13 centuries and 42 fifties. He also holds the record for the highest individual score by a New Zealand player in a World Cup match, scoring 148 against West Indies in 2019.

Trent Boult: The leader of the New Zealand pace attack, Boult is one of the most lethal bowlers in ODI cricket. He can swing the new ball both ways, bowl accurate yorkers and bouncers, and pick up early wickets. He can also bowl well in the death overs, and restrict the scoring rate. He has taken 172 wickets in 96 ODIs at an average of 24.65 and an economy rate of 5.07. He also has five five-wicket hauls to his name, including one against Australia in the 2015 World Cup final.

Jimmy Neesham: The all-rounder of the team, Neesham is a valuable asset for New Zealand in ODI cricket. He can bat in the middle order, and hit some big shots. He can also bowl medium pace, and break partnerships. He has scored 1,381 runs in 66 ODIs at an average of 32.16 and a strike rate of 97.77, with six fifties. He has also taken 64 wickets at an average of 35.01 and an economy rate of 5.94.

Hidden Gems

Mark Chapman: The left-handed batsman from Hong Kong, Chapman is one of the most promising talents in New Zealand cricket. He made his ODI debut in February 2018 against England, and scored a fluent 37 off 47 balls. He has a solid technique, a good range of shots, and a flair for scoring runs. He can bat anywhere in the top or middle order, and provide stability or aggression as per the situation.

Rachin Ravindra: The young spinner from Wellington, Ravindra is a surprise inclusion in the New Zealand squad for the World Cup. He has played only six List A matches so far, but has impressed with his performances. He can bowl left-arm orthodox spin, and turn the ball both ways. He can also bat in the lower order, and play some useful knocks. He has scored 144 runs in six List A matches at an average of 28.80 and a strike rate of 79.12. He has also taken nine wickets at an average of 25.77 and an economy rate of 4.77.

Glenn Phillips: The wicket-keeper batsman from Auckland, Phillips is a specialist in white-ball cricket. He can bat in the top or middle order, and score runs at a brisk pace. He can also keep wickets, and take some stunning catches and stumpings. He has scored 506 runs in nine ODIs at an average of 63.25 and a strike rate of 98.06, with two centuries and two fifties. He also holds the record for the fastest T20I hundred by a New Zealand player, off just 46 balls against West Indies in 2020

Records

– New Zealand have played in two World Cup finals so far, losing both times to Australia (2015) and England (2019). They lost their first final by seven wickets after being bowled out for 183. They lost their second final on boundary countback after a tied match and a tied super over.
– New Zealand hold the record for the highest team total in a World Cup match, scoring 397/6 against Zimbabwe in 2015. They also hold the record for the lowest team total in a World Cup match, scoring 68 against England in 1975.
– New Zealand have two players in the top 10 of the ICC ODI batting rankings: Kane Williamson (2nd) and Ross Taylor (10th). They also have one player in the top 10 of the ICC ODI bowling rankings: Trent Boult (8th).

Fantasy Tips

– Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, and Jimmy Neesham are the must-haves in your fantasy team, as they can score points with both bat and ball, and are consistent performers.
– Mark Chapman, Rachin Ravindra, and Glenn Phillips are the value picks, as they are relatively unknown and cheap, but can surprise with their skills and potential.
– Kane Williamson is the best choice for captain, as he can score big runs at a steady rate, and also get bonus points for catches. Trent Boult is the best choice for vice-captain, as he can take wickets in any conditions, and also save runs in the field.
– Avoid picking players who are injured or out of form, such as Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, and Lockie Ferguson. Also, avoid picking players who are likely to be benched, such as Mark Chapman, Rachin Ravindra, and Will Young.

Conclusion

New Zealand are a strong and balanced team, with a mix of experience and youth, and a lot of depth and skill. They have the confidence and momentum of being the runners-up of the last two World Cups, and will look to go one step further in the World Cup 2023. They have some tough opponents in their group, such as England, India, and Australia, but they have the quality and capability to overcome them. New Zealand are one of the teams to watch out for in the World Cup 2023.