ICC World Cup 2019 | New Zealand’s predicted XI for Bangladesh clash

ByDaniel Arambur, SportsCafe Editor

06/05/2019

New Zealand will back themselves to come through against high-flying Bangladesh in their second encounter of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019 on Wednesday. The Kiwis registered a resounding 10-wicket win against Sri Lanka and will take on Mashrafe Mortaza-led Bangladesh at the Oval today.

Openers

Martin Guptill

Guptill, who scored a 51-ball 73* against Sri Lanka, will be key at the top of the batting order for New Zealand at the ongoing World Cup and will open the innings in the match against Bangladesh. Guptill has the highest score at a World Cup (237) and has an average close to 44.

Colin Munro

Munro has been used at various positions in the New Zealand batting order in the past but will play as their primary opener alongside Guptill at this World Cup. Renowned for his dangerous hitting abilities, he boasts a strike rate of 106.27 and will look to take on the Bangladesh pace attack right from the very first ball at the Oval.

Middle-order

Kane Williamson(C): 28-year-old Kane Williamson really needs no introduction. Elegant with the bat, acrobatic on the field and composed as a skipper, New Zealand’s undisputed leader will hope to repeat his heroics of the 2015 edition of the World Cup where they finished as runners-up. A brilliant average of close to 46, means that Williamson will be tasked of playing the majority of the middle overs in the coming weeks.

Ross Taylor

At 35, Ross Taylor is one of the senior members of the New Zealand cricket team that has been flooded with a variety of youngsters in the last couple of years. But the veteran batsman has managed to hold on to his spot at number four on the batting list and his average of 48.32 from 219 ODIs speaks for itself.

Tom Latham(WK)

New Zealand’s first-choice wicket-keeper Tom Latham will serve as the number five batsman in the Kiwi line-up. A decent tally of 2395 runs from 86 ODI matches works in favour of the 27-year-old and he will be involved in the match against a tricky Bangladesh side for sure.

All-rounder

James Neesham

Neesham, a 28-year-old batting all-rounder boasts a strike rate of 105.07 in the lower batting order for New Zealand. He will act as a finisher and is also handy to bowl a few overs of medium pace in the middle overs having amassed 45 wickets from 50 one-dayers with the national team.

Colin de Grandhomme

A brilliant SR of 110.47 means that Colin will look to take on bowlers right from the moment he steps on to the crease. He is a decent medium pacer as well and is also more than capable of pulling off a brilliant catch or two in the field.

Spinner

Mitchell Santner

Santner, aged 27, is expected to get the nod ahead of Ish Sodhi for the game against Bangladesh. The CSK spinner dismissed Thisara Perera in the first game against Sri Lanka and will play the role of NZ’s premier spinner having bagged 64 wickets from 60 ODI matches for the Kiwis.

Pacers

Lockie Ferguson

Ferguson rose to the occasion in the win against Sri Lanka as he ended the match with figures of 3/22 from the six overs he bowled. He looks in good form and will be given the nod against Bangladesh who are fresh off an epic win against South Africa themselves.

Matthew Henry

27-year-old Matthew Henry is part of the Kiwi pace trio that involves Ferguson and Trent Boult as well. He was given the new ball against Sri Lanka and did not disappoint picking up the wickets of three of Sri Lanka’s top-four batsmen. He ended the match with figures of 3/29 from seven overs and is expected to play against Bangladesh.

Trent Boult

Undoubtedly, one of the most feared pacers at the current World Cup in England. Boult’s ability to terrorise batsmen will play a key role in New Zealand’s WC campaign this year. An economy rate of 5.08 and tally of 148 wickets from 80 ODIs meant that Boult will be the Kiwi’s primary weapon with the ball against Mashrafe Mortaza & Co. on Wednesday.