It’s an impressive quality of New Zealand’s cricketers that despite a small population, few tours, and a harrowing injury record they almost always managed to give opposition a tough time. The cliche that they are best as underdogs holds true–despite a disappointing 2009 season in England and Sri Lanka, the Kiwis braved a diminishing squad to seize the ICC Champions Trophy and even sneaked a 2-1 one-day series win in Abu Dhabi against Pakistan, whom they’d never beaten in the UAE before. Despite unconvincing performances against Pakistan in Twenty20 and Bangladesh at home, their one-day and Twenty20 teams gave Australia their toughest time of a breezing season, squaring the immensely popular Twenty20 series 1-1.
Indeed Twenty20 seems to be New Zealand’s favourite format; in 2007 they reached the semifinals, but were knocked out by Pakistan; they beat India last year 2-0; on an otherwise forgettable tour of Sri Lanka they sealed a 2-0 win over the hosts, and the unusual crowd support against Australia only hammered in the argument that the shorter the format, the more competitive the Kiwis.
Daniel Vettori is a crafty old veteran, and probably cricket’s most powerful captain today. Frugal left-arm spin and handy lower-order consistency help command his team’s respect, and the experienced Brendan McCullum–with his dizzying, clambering “McScoop” off quality pace continuing to astound–is a brutal hitter who can also anchor a Twenty20 innings cleverly. Burly Jesse Ryder, outrageous Ross Taylor and aggressive Martin Guptill are fine hitters of the ball, while Shane Bond’s pace and cunning make him the leader of an attack that is bolstered by Tim Southee, Ian Butler and Kyle Mills.
Jacob Oram’s steepling, thrifty medium-pace–which earned him a hat-trick against Sri Lanka last year–compounds the talent to hit a long ball, experienced Scott Styris will be keen to reinforce his credentials after forcing his place back, and Gareth Hopkins is a capable understudy to McCullum, whose older brother Nathan also bowls handy spin and bats lower down. Brendan apart, New Zealand’s most glaring weakness is against quality pace and swing, and Aaron Redmond will have his task cut out if he makes the eleven from a squad that also includes debuting all-rounder Rob Nicol.
The Kiwis, in group B, play the curtain-raiser against Sri Lanka in a group also containing Zimbabwe, and it seems like a compelling mix.
Group: B, V Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe @ Guyana
Watch out for: Brendan Taylor, whose audacity and whirling six-hitting to just about any part of the ground is superbly adjusted to the Twenty20 format, of which he is the world’s most seasoned player. He can bat through a Twenty20 innings, and his astonishing hand-eye coordination and superb fielding, behind the stumps or otherwise, make him essential to the side, and he is probably the closest contender to the amazing Adam Gilchrist.
