World Cup team guide: New Zealand. The dark horses who can be thoroughbreds

The six-time semi-finalists made their first appearance in a World Cup final last time out (put to the sword by Australia). There is every reason to believe they can be competitive again in England.

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Forever the dark horse.

But could this be New Zealand’s best chance to step out of Australia’s shadow — and land a historic World Cup title?

The six-time semi-finalists broke through for their first appearance in a World Cup final in 2015, and were promptly dealt a harsh lesson by an Australian side who surged to a record fifth title on the back of a devastating start with the ball — including Brendon McCullum’s first-over duck at the hands of Mitchell Starc.

New Zealand will look to Martin Guptill to get things moving at the top of the order.

While there are some survivors from that tournament, there has been a regeneration of the New Zealand team — with the likes of veteran campaigners McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Grant Elliott and Luke Ronchi all making way.

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In their place is a bold new brigade of stars, mixed in with the experience of the leftovers from the defeated 2015 finalists: think Ross Taylor, captain Kane Williamson, and their fast bowling pairing of Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

This is a dangerous team, who for once firmly deserve to be known as more than an outside chance.

In 2019, they’re genuine contenders.

Our squad for the @ICC @cricketworldcup in England and Wales! #CWC19 #BACKTHEBLACKCAPS #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/snN1vbJXyS

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) April 2, 2019

STRENGTHS

We’ve noted often on these pages that spin could play a big role at the World Cup, meaning for New Zealand the tandem attack of Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi will be expected to take on much of the pressure during the middle overs.

This could turn out to be a major boon for Williamson and his crew, who boast some impressive all-rounders — including in their spin stocks.

To focus just on his bowling is to undersell Santner’s all-round value — he’s the world’s fifth-best all-rounder, according to the ICC rankings — but the 27-year-old is the more economical and threatening of New Zealand’s spin pair.

The left-armer has had a carrom ball in his locker for more than a year now, and the ‘Santner Claw’ continues to baffle batsmen the world over — especially as he is careful not to overuse it.

Will it get a run in England? Let’s hope so.

Trent Boult will enjoy bowling under cloudy skies on English summer mornings.

WEAKNESSES

Three of New Zealand’s top four batsmen are their most influential, but that hasn’t translated through to serious run-scoring.

Ross Taylor brings a well known set of qualities to the table (see below), but there is also the calming class of Kane Williamson and the destructive powers of opener Martin Guptill.

Guptill is as important to New Zealand’s success as anyone — he sets the tone in many ways.

But with a rotation of opening partners that haven’t hit the mark, Guptill has himself struggled to impose himself at the international level recently despite his obvious talents.

At this stage it’s not entirely clear who will even open alongside him, with Colin Munro making the squad but failing to nail down a spot — meaning Henry Nicholls could occupy top spot.

With big runs predicted this tournament, all teams will be desperate to shoot out of the blocks more often than not.

New Zealand needs more from their openers than they’ve gotten in the past 18 months.

KEY PLAYERS

Trent Boult

There’s an expectation that this year’s World Cup will be one in which batsman thrive and bowlers — in particular those of the quick variety — will perish.

Flat decks and blazing bats will have seam-bowlers waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, we’re told.

So you’d think it’ll make life tough for New Zealand’s left-arm strike weapon, a man with 147 wickets at 24.7 and who has been in stellar form in 2019, taking 21 scalps at 20.57.

However, Boult is quick and gets the ball moving both ways. Under overcast conditions, which you can get in England even in the height of summer, there might be no more dangerous bowler on the planet.

Ross Taylor is the Kiwis all time record run scorer and central to their chances of success.

Ross Taylor

To the casual cricket fan, the following statement might sound absurd, but you could mount a serious argument that Ross Taylor is in the conversation for the world’s best one-day batsmen.

Virat Kohli will likely go down as history’s greatest ODI player — and since the 2015 World Cup, the Indian megastar is the only batsmen to have outperformed Taylor.

The Kiwi veteran, ranked No. 3 in the world, has been that good.

Since 2017, Taylor has added to his stunning resume and cemented his place at the very top of New Zealand cricket, passing Stephen Fleming as the country’s greatest ever run-scorer. He also owns the title for most centuries for the Black Caps (20).

If New Zealand are to go one better than they did in reaching the final last World Cup, Taylor’s explosive batting will be essential.

PREDICTION

New Zealand look a fair shout to claim one of the two semi-final places conventional wisdom says are left, after accounting for England and India taking the other pair.

To do so they will have to outperform the other fancied candidates in Australia and South Africa, and fend off any charge from the more unpredictable but talented West Indies, Pakistan and Afghanistan. On recent form this settled, balanced side seem more than capable. And once in the knockout stages it’s anyone’s tournament. Losing finalists for a second successive tournament may well be on the cards.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is one of the world's most feared batsmen in any format.

FULL SQUAD

Kane Williamson (capt), Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, Tom Blundell, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

FIXTURES

Saturday, June 1: Sri Lanka (Cardiff, 7.30pm)

Wednesday, June 5: Bangladesh (The Oval, 7.30pm)

Saturday, June 8: Afghanistan (Taunton, 7.30pm)

Thursday, June 13: India (Trent Bridge, 7.30pm)

Wednesday, June 19: South Africa (Edgbaston, 7.30pm)

Saturday, June 22: West Indies (Old Trafford, 10.30pm)

Wednesday, June 26: Pakistan (Edgbaston, 7.30pm)

Saturday, June 29: Australia (Lord’s, 10.30pm)

Wednesday, July 3: England (Chester-le-Street, 7.30pm)