Cricket World Cup 2019, New Zealand preview, likely starting XI: Black Caps need to do justice to their potential

New Zealand had topped the first round the only time a World Cup was played in a single round-robin league format, in 1992. They were also runners-up in 2015 – though, to be fair, they had co-hosted both editions. They have also made it to the top four in 1975, 1979, 1999, 2007, and 2011 – making it seven out of eleven editions including the last three.

And yet, rarely have they started a World Cup as favourites – and it is no different this time. They have world-class batsmen in Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, and Martin Guptill; all-rounders of all sorts including Tom Latham, yet another fantastic batsman; and an excellent bowling combination.

New Zealand’s pacers were outstanding in the warm-up match against India. Matt Henry did not feature, which probably indicates that he may be left out for Lockie Ferguson. And if all three all-rounders (Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, and Jimmy Neesham) play, one of Colin Munro and Henry Nicholls may have to sit out. The rest is sorted.

Key players

Ross Taylor: If one takes Virat Kohli away, no one has been as consistent as Taylor since 2018. An average of 82.13 and a strike rate of 92 – with runs against everyone and in all sorts of places – bear testimony to that. He has even top-scored with 71 in the warm-up match against India. Is this World Cup going to be his?

Kane Williamson: Compared to Taylor, Williamson has been – well, human (average 44.10 since 2018, strike rate 76), though several of his innings have come in testing conditions. Expect him to anchor the New Zealand middle-order, and when needed, accelerate. While he is a pleasure to watch, few batsmen are as dangerous as an explosive Williamson.

Trent Boult: It does not take a specialist to figure out that a bowler with a sub-25 average and an economy rate of 5.07 over a 7-year-long career is exceptional. Boult also had the joint-most wickets in the 2015 World Cup. On flat wickets he can be difficult to put away; and if there is movement, Boult can run through any opposition, as India found out in their warm-up match.

Squad: Kane Williamson (c), Tim Southee (vc), Tom Blundell (wk), Tom Latham (wk), Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor.

Likely XI: Tom Latham (wk), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson.

Prediction

The usual: knocked out in the semi-finals.