These are strange times for New Zealand cricket. So often cast as the dark horses in World Cups – to fit in with their Black Caps moniker – they are preparing for the 11th edition of the competition as potential winners who have the benefit of playing all their matches on home soil up to the final.
The reasons seem pretty straightforward. Firstly, their form over the last 13 months has been sensational: winning 15 of their last 25 matches – including six of eight in 2015 – with series victories over India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. The only black mark being their two defeats against South Africa in October.
– #Quiz360: WIN dinner for 2 at Jumeira Rotana, Dubai
– #CWC15: World Cup Stick Cricket is here!
– #CWC15: 4-time champions Australia in right frame of mind to succeed
Secondly, as well as their overall form it’s the performances of key individuals that has really got everyone excited. Since the start of last year, Kane WIlliamson and Ross Taylor are both averaging over 60 in one-day cricket, while eight of their batsmen during that time have registered at least one century. Admittedly, that list does include Jesse Ryder who’s absent from this World Cup due to his ongoing personal issues and a lack of time at the crease.
New Zealand broke several batting records last year and their collective strike rate for this year stands at 95.47, enough T to make opposition bowlers wince. Tellingly, it’s also a considerable gain on the 73.10 they were batting at in 1992, the last time they hosted the World Cup.
At the other end of the wicket, Corey Anderson has shown he is more than just a huge-hitting all-rounder and has been New Zealand’s leading wicket taker since the start of last year with 28. Mitchell McClenaghan is second on 26 and while their two main strike bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee lag slightly behind, their performances against Pakistan imply they’re ready to peak at just the right time.
Always a consistently strong fielding side, New Zealand can be confident of putting up significant scores while keeping it tight at the other end.
To put it in a black and white: they’re playing exceptionally well and are at home. It would be foolish to consider them anything other than strong favourites.
However, away from the tangibles, there is also much more to support their cause, given the unity, teamwork and spirit fostered under Mike Hesson.
Hesson is a taskmaster but has created an air of calming confidence among his squad; demanding results and targets while at the same time giving the impression of a relaxed and easy-going group of players.
The 40-year-old hasn’t been afraid to talk up New Zealand’s chances, believing they are good enough to reach the final, in part for the reasons previously mentioned – Hesson has described their preparation as perfect – but also because he knows this team has more to give, particularly in the bowling department which he feels has not quite yet matched the impressive feats of those wielding the willow.
There is also New Zealand’s own relationship with the World Cup. They are a side who have consistently punched above their weight, and performed against pretournament expectations, hence the ‘dark horse’ label. Often a unit appearing greater than the sum of its parts, the overall feeling both inside and outside the country is that this time everything is coming together at just the right time.
STAR MAN – BRENDON MCCULLUM
The sort of team-mate every cricketer wants by his side. An impressive character on and off the field, McCullum is able to marry destructive and dynamic batting with a cool head when captaining this young, enthusiastic and deeply-talented team. Sets the tone for the side with his aggressive shot-making at the top of the innings and is a huge influence on how New Zealand perform.
STRENGTHS
Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor are all in fantastic nick and it’s not unreasonable to suggest that the Black Caps have, at least on form, the best batting line-up going into the competition. Trent Boult and Tim Southee are two vastly underrated bowlers and have impressed in the last few months with their consistency.
From a mental point of view, McCullum, Taylor and Vettori have all captained the side and there is a real feeling of squad unity and togetherness about this team. Plus, there’s the added bonus of playing on home soil on wickets they grew up playing on.
WEAKNESSES
Vettori may be the wise head in the dressing room and the strong tactician on the field but his bowling, understandably, is
not what it was.
In fact, he has just one wicket in his last five ODIs bowled and with Nathan McCullum also not exactly setting the
scorecard alight with his own figures, if teams can weather the storm (and it is quite a storm) of Boult and Southee
they may find some joy against the Black Caps spinners.
How New Zealand deal with the extra expectation will also be interesting. Semi-finals seem to be the minimum for this group of players.
VERDICT
Genuine contenders who have a number of factors on their side which means anything less than a semi-final appearance
will be seen as a considerable failure. They have the talent to go all the way, so the only question that remains is do they possess the necessary temperament?
