New Zealand might not look like strong contenders of the World Cup like they have in the past, but the team has in it to surprise everyone, provided the middle order fires for the Kiwis in the grand battle in India.
New Zealand have been the finalists of last two 50 over World Cup and was semifinalist in 2011 and 2007 tournament. The team had shown lot of fight in the 2011 World Cup played in Indian subcontinent. They have their two premier pace bowlers pairing up after long time and presence of strong troika in batting order in form of Devon Conway, Kane Williamson and Tom Latham boosts their chances.
In spite of this, if New Zealand have to clear the final hurdle this time, it’s their middle order which has to fire, a lot will depend how Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman and Will Young performs during the tournament.
Daryl Mitchell has had a very impressive International career till now. He has become the team’s mainstay in a short span of time. In his short ODI career he has an impressive average of 46.59 in 29 ODI’s, he also has 4 hundreds, his runs and the rate which he will score these runs will be crucial for the side. It will lessen the pressure on Devon Conway, Tom Latham and captain Williamson. Mitchell is more crucial to any other batsman in top 6 because he provides a valuable option as medium pace bowling which will be very useful in India.
Glenn Phillips’s form will also be crucial considering the kind of explosive batsman he is. On his day he can tear apart any given attack. Philips issue is that he has been unable to convert his starts in match winning innings, there have been 20’s, 30’s and 40’s but the big scores are missing. It can be understood from the fact that he is yet to score a hundred even after playing 20 ODI’s and has only 2 fifties to his name. He has to ensure that he make it big if he gets in because the pitches will be very different than what it is in New Zealand.
Will Chapman make his Mark for the Kiwis?
Mark Chapman is the third crucial batter in the Kiwi middle order. Born in Hong Kong but qualified through this father to play for New Zealand, he had made good strides in short period of time. He had 380 runs in 12 ODI with an average of 38.00 and has already had the backing of the team management and selectors. Furthermore, the failure of Henry Nicholls to grab his opportunities has opened the door for the southpaw.
Chapman, who lest it is forgotten once played for Hong Kong, finds himself with a chance to do something special; the man who scored a dazzling ODI century in debut back in 2015 (for HK), has a great chance to repay the trust shown by the selectors.
Moreover, the 29-year-old who has 2 hundreds from 12 one dayers and a batting average of 38, has the capability to carry the team’s middle order. His hitting prowess will be an asset to the team who would be looking for some quick runs from him in middle and late overs.
The final batter in this line up would be Will Young.
Technically correct and adept to play in different situations, Will Young is the kind of player who stands true to ethos of his name: for as long as you have the will, you’ll always stay young; the New Plymouth-born, who averages 43 in ODI’s (22 games) is, however, just 30.
He has been asked to open with Conway in recent times as Fin Allen has been quite inconsistent. As Ross Taylor (retired) and Martin Guptill (overlooked) the two stalwarts of previous editions wouldn’t be there, Will Young will have greater responsibility burden of expectations.
Young also has an impressive domestic record both in first class and List A; the batting all-rounder started his career with a lot of expectations. However, he had mix start to his International journey having failed to capitalise in Tests.
In 13 Tests he scored 582 runs at an average of 26.45, but that didn’t mean that the limited overs format wasn’t going to be his calling.
In ODI’s, his record seems to be improving all the time.
With 818 runs to his name in 50-over cricket, Will Young, who has batted at #3 on nine out of twenty two occasions, has an average that’s touching 44.
Moreover, he has much better technique than Finn Allen and that may have likely been the reason why the Auckland-born Allen wasn’t preferred, but Young was.
Having said that, it will only be a fool’s errand to underestimate the Kiwis; not only the finalists of the 2019 World Cup campaign but the sport’s perennial underdogs.
Honestly, one wonders at times as to how might Kane Williamson view all these adages that have so conveniently stuck by a team that more often than not, plays like a world beater and not some Dark horse.
But where the game stands, then Cricket is a team game. It’s one where the whole group has to make an effort and one lone individual or two can’t push the unit. In such a scenario, New Zealand would need the team to play as a closely-knit unit much like the yesteryears, where four of these batsmen we discussed play as if there’s no tomorrow.
But the question is, how easy would it be to play like that in the tricky sub-continental conditions?
(with contributions from Dev Tyagi)
