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New Zealand
New Zealand
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Andrew Hughes /
08 February 2011 /
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"The case for the defence rests on the presence of three world class limited overs batsmen in Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor; a dose of experience in all-rounders Scott Styris and Jacob Oram and the reputation of John Wright as one of the world’s best coaches."
Fittingly for a team who always wears black, they're perennial dark horses for each and every World Cup. But this is far from being their best crop of players in recent times...
New Zealand
New Zealand have often been the fashionable choice for punters looking for a World Cup dark horse and value seekers who come to this tournament winner's market fresh may well be tempted by the apparently generous [23.0] on offer about a Black Cap win; if only with the intention of laying it off later on when they reach the semis.
But before you click on that blue button, you should pause for thought. They are that price for a reason. Several reasons, in fact. Perennial problems such as an inconsistent batting line-up and a lack of quality fast bowlers persist; this first major tournament of the post-Shane Bond era sees a particularly tame collection of seam bowlers boarding the plane to India. There is the unsettling fact of Daniel Vettori's imminent retirement from the captaincy and the equally unsettling new coaching regime of John Wright, which appears not to have been welcomed in all parts of the dressing room. And then there is the small matter of their appalling recent record in this format: 13 losses in their last 15, including a 0-9 record in India and Bangladesh.
The case for the defence rests on the presence of three world class limited overs batsmen in Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor; a dose of experience in all-rounders Scott Styris and Jacob Oram and the reputation of John Wright as one of the world's best coaches. Their path to the quarter-finals looks assured, barring unlikely defeats to Kenya and Canada, but if they are to go any further, they need to use the Group stage to settle on their best line-up and find some form.
The Captain - Daniel Vettori
One of the best captains New Zealand have ever had, Vettori has been the glue keeping this team together since Stephen Fleming stepped down in 2007, his leadership tested to the utmost in marshalling a combination of rookies and inconsistent performers. He will need all his captaincy skills on the field and his man management expertise off it if New Zealand are to make the most of their limited ability. And his relationship with coach Wright will be crucial.
The Heavyweight - Jesse Ryder
Ryder's greatest challenge this tournament could just be staying fit and not doing anything silly off the field. At the top of his game and injury free, he is one of the most dangerous batsmen in world cricket, a rapid scorer who can get an innings off to a blistering start. His bowling is in the Jacques Kallis mode and whilst he may not be able to put in a full 10 over spell, he is a useful supplement to the first choice seamers.
The Stylist - Ross Taylor
The most accomplished batsman in the New Zealand line-up and many people's idea of Vettori's successor. He has flattered to deceive in the past, but attractive cameos are no longer sufficient. With Ryder opening up and McCullum likely to feature at six or seven, Taylor will be the marquee player in the middle order and New Zealand need him to dominate and score a big century or two.
The Bruiser - Brendon McCullum
Another potential captain, although his spell as skipper of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL may count against him, McCullum is a confidence player with a range of brutal strokes that can take any game away from the opposition. With New Zealand's line-up still fluid, he needs to be flexible enough to open the innings or come in as a heavy hitter in the late overs as required. If he is in the mood, we can expect fireworks: his performances on Indian soil in the first edition of the IPL will live long in the memory of all who saw them.
Best Bet:
Back Ross Taylor to be top New Zealand run scorer at [5.0]
