World T20 2016: SWOT Analysis of New Zealand team

New Zealand will play World T20 2016 without their recently retired captain Brendon McCullum and under the leadership of their best batsman since last two or three years Kane Williamson who has not had that much experience of captaincy in the bigger tournaments like this but with the kind of ability he has, one can trust him to get the job done for New Zealand in this year’s T20 World Cup. New Zealand have been in supreme form in T20I format in this year as they have won 4 out of 5 matches but they will be tested in India as they will play their first ever T20I match in India in this year’s T20 World Cup and it will be against India on March 15, 2016 at Nagpur. New Zealand are in group B with Australia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and against all the nations they have played decent cricket in last five years or so but can current New Zealand squad of T20 World Cup 2016 repeat those performances or not, let us then look at the New Zealand’s chances in this year’s World T20.

Strength:

Big hitting all-rounders:

In the squad of New Zealand for the World T20 2016, there are many big hitting all-rounders which includes Corey Anderson, Colin Munro, Grant Elliott, Henry Nicholas etc. who can destroy any bowling attack at their will and can change the situation of the match in no time as we have seen many times from these players and these multi-dimensional players will be their biggest strength in this year’s World T20. Apart from their batting abilities all are handy bowlers and are good fielders which will give depth to New Zealand’s bowling and due to these kind of players one may not surprise if New Zealand will be one of the four semi-finalists in 2016 World T20.

Fast bowling attack:

Just like Australia and South Africa, fast bowlers have been New Zealand’s X-factors since many years and in this World T20 also, they will play a huge role if New Zealand want to win the World T20. New Zealand have two of World’s best bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee to open the bowling attack for them and for the third seamer’s spot they have two options either they can go with speedster Adam Milne or wicket-taker Mitchell McClenghan but as of now New Zealand will give chance to Adam Milne because of his extra pace and if he fails then they have Mitchell McClenghan and along with that they have Corey Anderson and Grant Elliott who can be effective in Indian conditions so overall these New Zealand side have a very good pace attack and if their pacers will click then New Zealand have a very good chance of winning this year’s World T20.

Weakness:

In-experienced spinners:

New Zealand have picked three spinners in their side for World T20 and all have different varieties. They have picked an off-spinner Nathan McCullum, a leg spinner IshSodhi and a left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner but they have not played a single T20I match in India and this is the only weakness that we can find in current New Zealand’s squad and from these three they will play two and they will be McCullum and Santner because of their extra batting abilities and good fielding abilities. It is a fact that opposition teams will plan to attack these New Zealand spinners to beat New Zealand most of the time due to their inexperience but it will be interesting to see how New Zealand spinners will bowl on these Indian spinner friendly pitches.

Indian conditions:

This can be another weakness for New Zealand but another fact is that New Zealand have some good players like Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor etc. who are good players of spin bowling as we have seen many times from them and along with these players other New Zealand players will try to learn as much as they can from Indian conditions in league matches to prepare themselves for the bigger matches so it will be interesting to see how New Zealand batsmen will bat on Indian pitchers and how New Zealand pacers will bowl and will New Zealand spinners be able to take an advantage of Indian pitches or not but that the time will only tell but as of now it will be a challenge for New Zealand to beat Asian teams in India in this year’s World T20.

Opportunities:

Colin Munro:

After Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson, if we have seen a player from New Zealand who can hit from ball one in last year or so then he is Colin Munro, he is a revolution for New Zealand in 2016 as he now holds the record for fastest fifty in T20Is among New Zealand batsmen and second fastest fifty in T20Is after Yuvraj Singh as we have seen he made 50* runs from 14 balls against Sri Lanka at Auckland on January 10, 2016. This will be a great opportunity for Munro to make an impact in World cricket and to make his case in New Zealand’s ODI and Test squad and if he will play upto his potential in World T20 then he will find his place in New Zealand’s ODI and Test side in near future.

Time for spinners to shine:

This will probably be a last World Cup for Nathan McCullum so he would like to make an impact and help New Zealand to win the World Cup along with him IshSodhi will try to cement his place in the side in whatever opportunities he will get in World T20 because he knows after Nathan’s retirement he can be a lead spinner for New Zealand if he performs well in this year’s World T20. Mitchell Santner has done well for New Zealand as a spinner in limited opportunities and he would like to continue to make a case for himself in New Zealand’s ODI and Test side in near future so if these spinners will bowl well then we may see New Zealand lift this year’s World T20.

Threats:

A tough group:

New Zealand are in group-B in World T20 2016 and in group-B, there are three Asian teams named India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. India have been always tough to beat in their own backyard irrespective of any format and the rise of Bangladesh in World cricket and the form is in they are, can be a big threat for New Zealand and against Pakistan and Australia, New Zealand have a bad record in T20Is. New Zealand have played 14 T20I matches against Pakistan and won only 6 matches and against Australia, they have played 5 T20I matches and lost 4 matches so if we go by records then it will be challenge for New Zealand to beat these sides but if they have to reach into semi-finals then they have to beat anyhow and they have a good squad who can do that for them in this year’s World T20.

New Zealand Squad: Kane Williamson (capt), Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, Corey Anderson, Grant Elliott, Mitchell Santner, Luke Ronchi, Nathan McCullum, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan, Trent Boult.