When New Zealand announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC mega event, Martin Guptil set a record for playing his 7th T20 World Cup. This veteran batter is of 35 years and is the most experienced player in blackcap’s squad. Kane Williamson will lead the team in the prestigious tournament, whereas the New-Zealand cricket board made three changes from the team that played the T20 World cup final, in UAE last year.
Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, and Lockie Ferguson will replace all-rounder Kyle Jamieson, Todd Astle, and Tim Seifert, who were part of the T20 World Cup 2021. Two players, Trent Boult and Jimmy Neesham, who have some issues with their board, also featured in the 15-member squad, and they will play an important role in the team. This time Blackcaps will try to improve their previous mistakes and hopefully will lift their first ICC prestigious trophy in history.
The New Zealand team has a strong-pace attack in form of Boult, Ferguson, Tim Southee, and Adam Milne. Whereas spin bowling responsibility will be handled by Ish Shodi and supported by Bracewell and Mitchell Santner. Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Santner, Bracewell, and Neesham are the most fabulous all-rounder on the team. They will strengthen the team in both departments and thus can change the game momentum anytime. Devon Conway and Finn Allen are the most destructive batter on the team, and they will try to offer a blistering start to the team.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead said, “It’s fascinating for Finn and Michael, who are set for their first ICC events, while Martin Guptill is preparing for his 7th T20 World Cup – an incredible achievement. It’s great to have this tournament so soon after last year’s event, in which we played some outstanding cricket but couldn’t quite get over the line at the end. With the nucleus of that squad retained, along with the exciting additions of Finn and Michael, we should go into the tournament with plenty of optimism”.
New Zealand will play its opening match against Australia at SCG on 22nd October 2022. It will be interesting to see how the sub-continent neighbors will perform.
