Online Reporter
There’s plenty of cream in the batting line-up and spin attack, but New Zealand’s seam attack looks a bit squishy for the ICC Champions Trophy.
The previous ICC tournament, the 2024 T20 World Cup, was a nightmare for New Zealand in the Caribbean, but the versatility in their ODI squad and familiarity with the conditions, especially in Pakistan, has had them dreaming big once again.
Since 2019, no visiting team has played more ODIs in Pakistan than New Zealand (10). New Zealand also have batting depth down to No.8, where their captain Mitchell Santner is likely to slot in, and eight bowling options in their potential XI, if you include Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell.
With the bat, Ravindra and Mitchell could disrupt spin like they demonstrated during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Though New Zealand don’t have a wristspinner in their squad, their fingerspin-bowling allrounders — Santner, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips in particular – provide them with immense balance. Among them, Bracewell and Santner himself can bowl in the powerplay.
While there’s plenty of cream in the batting line-up and spin attack, the seam attack looks a bit squishy. Lockie Ferguson, who sustained a hamstring injury while playing in the ILT20, has resumed training with New Zealand and could be fit in time for the Champions Trophy.
Ben Sears, the other tearaway, however, has been sidelined from the tournament with a hamstring injury. Will O’Rourke offers high pace and bounce in Sears’ absence but he is yet to get a taste of an ICC tournament. This might leave Matt Henry with plenty on his plate.
Who are their opponents
New Zealand will kick off the tournament against hosts Pakistan in Karachi on February 19 before they will face Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 24. They will then travel to Dubai to meet India in the last group game on March 2.
Recent ODI form
New Zealand have won two of the three bilateral series they’ve played since making the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup.
A number of the seniors missed all three series − two at home and one away in Sri Lanka — before a near full-strength New Zealand side enjoyed an unbeaten run to the tri-series title in Pakistan.
They decimated Pakistan in the final in Karachi, where they will meet Pakistan once again in the Champions Trophy opener on February 19.
Champions Trophy history
In 2000, New Zealand secured their first-ever world title when they won the ICC knockout in Nairobi. The Black Caps haven’t clinched a world title since.
They came close to winning the Champions Trophy once again in 2009, when they eventually lost to Australia in a Trans-Tasman final in Centurion. — EspnCricinfo.
