New Zealand were the runners up in the last Cricket World Cup and they head to England looking to go one better this year. As is so often the case with them, they have gone into the tournament a little under the radar but that will suit this down to earth side just fine I suspect. There is pressure on them however. This has been a golden age for New Zealand cricket and this could be the last chance they have of global success for a while.
Profile
Captain: Kane Williamson
Previous Best: Final (2015)
Key Players: Kane Williamson & Trent Boult
Best Odds: 12/1 Betfair
Fixtures
June 1: vs Sri Lanka at Cardiff
June 5: vs Bangladesh at The Oval (d/n)
June 8: vs Afghanistan at Taunton (d/n)
June 13: vs India at Trent Bridge
June 19: vs South Africa at Edgbaston
June 22: vs West Indies at Old Trafford (d/n)
June 26: vs Pakistan at Edgbaston
June 29: vs Australia at Lord’s (d/n)
July 3: vs England at The Riverside
Squad
Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Colin Munro, Ish Sodhi, Henry Nicholls, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Jimmy Neesham
Team Guide
New Zealand might lack a little bit of the fireworks that they had when they co-hosted the tournament a couple of years ago but they don’t lack for class either with the bat or the ball. They don’t actually lack for quality either but the fear is that they might lack for depth in both departments and I think if that is the case then we are going to see them struggle somewhat as a result.
If their star players all turn up and have big tournaments then this lot could easily make the semi-finals but if they don’t, unless there is an unheralded hero within their ranks they may well be going home after the group stage. If Boult can’t swing the new ball then they could be in a spot of bother if recent history is anything to go by.
Betting
I must admit there isn’t a whole lot I want to bet on when it comes to the New Zealand players in this tournament. The temptation is there to back Trent Boult but we’ve hardly seen a ball swing all summer and with four day/night matches out of their nine group games you wouldn’t think New Zealand will find much, even Boult so my bet is going to come in the form of the batting.
Kane Williamson in tempting here but in light with what I said about the day-night matches and the lack of swing around in them I fancy Martin Guptill might get a jump start on him batting against a new ball that isn’t likely to do a whole lot on pitches that are made for batting with outfields to make the fielding restrictions a real advantage for the batsmen. Guptill can go very big when he gets going and has plenty of experience with English conditions. At 7/2 there is enough juice in his price to go with him here.
Tips
Back M.Guptill Top New Zealand Tournament Batsman for a 2/10 stake at 4.50 with William Hill
Back him here:
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