ICC World Cup 2023 : Kiwis Are Capable Of Doing Better But Will They Deliver ?

No matter what quality of cricket New Zealand plays they always reach the knock out rounds. Statistics tell this tale. Barring 1975, 1983, 1987 and 2003 Kiwis has made it at least to the quarter finals.

In 1979 New Zealand narrowly lost to England (by 9 runs) in the semi finals.  In 1992 an innings of Inzamam-Ul-Haq blasted their cup hopes . In 1996 against their trans Tasman rivals Australia in the quarter finals at Madras (now Chennai) they went down fighting. The Kiwis were outclassed by Pakistan again in the 1999 semi finals. In 2007 and 2011 they were outclassed by fancied Sri Lankans in the semi finals. Whereas, in 2015 and 2019 they made it to the Grand Finale where they went down to the hosts Australia and England respectively. Weird rule prevented them from clinching the title against England in the last edition.

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The amazing feature of New Zealand cricket is that they don’t have any such star players. They always put up a team effort.

Experienced campaigner Kane Williamson is to lead the Kiwis who along with Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips will be taking charge of the batting department whereas seniors Trent Boult, Tim Southee and  Lockie Ferguson will take up the responsibility of their pace attack on the other hand experienced Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi will be leading the spin attack. They have players in the form of Tom Latham, Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips who are capable of keeping wickets.

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New Zealand these days are playing very poor cricket but again the World Cup proves to be a different ball game for them.