Experience Key for New Zealand in Hunt for T20 Glory: T20 World Cup Preview

The largest-ever T20I World Cup is nearly here, and New Zealand has a settled squad again for the tournament. Experience is key for the New Zealanders and 13 of the 15 players have appeared at a T20 World Cup before.

In what is likely to be a final T20 World Cup for a few of the players such as Tim Southee, Jimmy Neesham, and Trent Boult. Rachin Ravindra, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, and Glenn Phillips are the only players in the squad who are under 30 along with travelling reserve Ben Sears.

With New Zealand not playing any warm-up games, they will be relying on the practice that they have been able to gain in training along with the players that featured in the IPL, even though there was limited game time for some.

Southee will be at his seventh T20 World Cup while it will be captain Kane Williamson’s sixth appearance and Boult’s fifth. Ravindra and Matt Henry are the two players who’ll be featuring at their first. 

The batting lineup will be led mainly by Allen and Devon Conway as the wicket-keeper at the opening slots with Williamson slotting in his usual position of number three. Talk about who will be batting between four and seven is a mystery with Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Chapman, Ravindra, Neesham, and Michael Bracewell all capable of batting in the top six.

Boult will likely be leading the bowling attack alongside the pace of Lockie Ferguson, the fastest bowler in the Kiwi side. Depending on the pitch conditions those two may be the only two pacers selected in the XIs with Neesham able to offer a third option if necessary. 

Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner will lead spin as the two front-line spinners. The pair will be ably supported by Ravindra, Phillips, and Bracewell, who have shown their worth in the cricketing world before. 

Mitchell and Chapman are other part-timer bowlers with medium-pace and spin bowling options respectively. They both don’t get much utilisation with the ball, however, both players can stand up in the big moments if needed.

All players will want to play their hearts out as they hunt to make it out of a tough group with the co-hosts the West Indies, Afghanistan, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea all in Group C with the Aotearoa. 

Predicted XI:

• Finn Allen

• Devon Conway (WK)

• Kane Williamson (C)

• Glenn Phillips

• Daryl Mitchell

• Jimmy Neesham

• Michael Bracewell

• Mitchell Santner

• Ish Sodhi

• Trent Boult

• Lockie Ferguson