The New Zealand Cricket Board has announced the squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023, starting from October 05 in India. New Zealand will start its WC campaign in a tournament opener against the current world champions England on October 05 in Ahmedabad. It will be a rematch between the two finalists of the ICC World Cup 2019. The New Zealand cricket team will look to take revenge for the last time’s loss in the WC final.
Kane Williamson is back in the team
The regular captain Kane Williamson will be back in the team after an injury. He got injured during the first game of the Indian Premier League IPL 2023 when he was fielding at the boundary line. His recovery from the ruptured ACL is quicker than expected. Williamson traveled with the team for the ODI series against England despite not being a part of the squad.
He will lead the side in the ICC ODI WC 2023. Tom Latham will be his deputy.
Adam Milne misses out
Adam Milne, one of the key members of the New Zealand cricket team’s pace attack has missed out of the squad due to injury. He picked up an injury during the ongoing ODI series against England. Milne was a part of the team in the 2019 ODI WC.
4th ODI World Cup for the experienced Williamson and Southee
The experienced duo of Kane Williamson and Tim Southee will play their 4th ODI World Cup. Both were also a part of the 2011, 2015, and 2019 ODI WCs.
A mixture of youngsters and experienced players
The New Zealand cricket team is looking good with the balance of some experienced youngsters in the team.
Some of the experienced players like M Santner, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult, Kane Williamson, etc will be in the team. Their experience will be vital on a big stage like the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
Youngsters doing well as well
Some of the youngsters like Mark Chapman, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, etc. have been doing well recently. All and all, the right balance of experience and youngsters is key for the New Zealand cricket team.
Gary Stead on the New Zealand cricket team’s selection
Blackcaps coach Gary Stead laid emphasis on the right balance in the team. He also congratulated all the players who got selected in the team.
“It’s always a special time to name a tournament team and I’d like to congratulate the 15 players selected today. It’s a great honor to represent your country at a World Cup. From Kane and Tim heading to their fourth tournament to the guys selected for the first time it’s always a very exciting time.” – Gary Stead said
Tough calls are taken while selecting a team
“As with any squad named for an ICC tournament, there have been some tough calls and there will be some disappointed players. The key for us was finding the right balance for the squad and making sure we had our bases covered for what is going to be a very competitive tournament.” – Stead added.
First World Cup for some players
Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Philips, Rachin Ravindra, and Will Young all will play its first ICC ODI World Cup. D Mitchell and Glenn Philips have been doing well in the middle-order and could be the X-factor for the team. Both can play some big shots when needed and it will be a good thing for NZ.
New Zealand cricket team looking for their first ODI WC
New Zealand has always emerged as one of the better teams in the last few years when it comes to the World Cups. Whether it is a T20I WC or an ODI WC.
They have played the two back-to-back ODI WC finals in 2015 and 2019. But unfortunately couldn’t get over the line in the finals.
In 2015, Australia won a one-sided final. And in 2019, NZ lost by the barest of margins with a boundary count rule after even the super over ended in a tie.
New Zealand looks to go one step further
The New Zealand cricket team has played two finals in the last two ODI WCs. They will look to go one step further and want to win the title. They haven’t won a single ODI WC yet.
New Zealand Cricket Team provisional squad for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023:-
Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (vc) and (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Philips, Rachin Ravindra, M Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young
Conclusion
So this is the squad of New Zealand for the ICC World Cup 2023. They also got Trent Boult back, who is not a part of NZ’s central contract. He has been the best bowler in the last two ODI WCs for NZ. His experience will be important for the team.
New Zealand will play a series against Bangladesh before the WC. And before the first game in the tournament, they will play two warm-up matches against Pakistan and South Africa on September 29 and October 02 respectively.