New Zealand Probable Playing 11 for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

New Zealand Probable Playing 11 for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019: TSR presents West Indies’ likely Playing 11 for their 1st match vs Pakistan

New Zealand have had two contrasting performances in the Warm-up matches against India and West Indies. While they were all over the Indian side like a rash, ticking all the boxes in both the departments in Bristol, they performed in an exact opposite fashion against the lower-ranked Windies side at the same venue two days later.

ALSO READ: West Indies probable Playing 11 for their opening match against Pakistan

The last ODI series they played was against Bangladesh, where they had thrashed the visitors 3-0 in their home.

The good news for them is that in the two Warm-up games they must have probably figured out who to play and drop in their first match of the World Cup campaign, against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on June 1.

New Zealand Predicted Playing 11 for ICC Cricket World Cup

Top Order

The selection dilemma for New Zealand start right at the top. While Martin Guptill will be their no.1 batsman (in the batting order), skipper Kane Williamson will come in at no.3.

Guptill is in prime form after his two back-to-back centuries against Bangladesh in February this year. Williamson too, carried on with his good form, scoring half-centuries on the trot in the two Warm-up matches.

It is still unclear as to who would open the innings alongside Guptill. They have tried two options in the Warm-up games- Colin Munro and Henry Nicholls at the top. But, both failed to deliver an impressive show. But, considering the recent run of form, the selectors should go for the latter, as he has proved in the recent past that he can bat at the top.

With scores of 53 and 64 with the new ball against Bangladesh in their last ODI series, Nicholls for sure presents a strong case for himself at the opening slot.

Middle-order

It is a no-brainer that the veteran batsman Ross Taylor becomes an automatic selection at no.4. His recent form explicitly exhibits it. He averaged 135 against the Bangladesh in the ODI series. He had also struck a 75-ball 71 against a formidable Indian bowling unit.

Batsmen walking in nos. 5,6 and 7 would be wicket-keeper Tom Blundell, all-rounders Jimmy Neesham, and  Mitchell Santner. Blundell was magnificent against the Windies in a high scoring affair at Bristol. His innings of 106 off 89 deliveries attracted many eyeballs, and was perhaps enough for him to be drafted into the side for their opening match.

Moreover, with Tom Latham’s injury concerns and a depleted and low in confidence Sri Lankan side, Blundell deserves to get an affirmation nod from the selectors to feature in his maiden One-Day International.

Jimmy Neesham has performed better in New Zealand colours than Colin De Grandhomme and should feature alongside their spinner all-rounder, Mitchell Santner.

Bowlers

Talking about the spinners first-up, it should be a norm for all the teams to play at least two spinners in their playing eleven, considering the relatively flat England pitches and the need to take wickets and keep the run-rate under check during the middle-overs. Thus, the leg-spinner Ish Sodhi should become an automatic selection.

The core of fast bowlers would be the experienced duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee. While the third pacer’s selection might well be a tough nut to crack for the selectors. While both Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry were not able to impress the selectors in the Warm-up matches, the fact that Ferguson featured in both the games, the selectors have perhaps made up their mind on the selecting him over Henry.

New Zealand Predicted Playing 11 for ICC Cricket World Cup

Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Blundell (Wk), Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult.