New Zealand’s Probable Squad For 2023 World Cup | Will Kane Williamson Pull Off A Lionel Messi In India?
Kane Williamson is still doubtful to participate at the ODI World Cup 2023 (Getty Images)
It is never appropriate to compare two different sports. However, Your eyebrows will begin to raise if you notice that there is a strong possibility that two icons with very different fields of expertise could pull something similar off. Lionel Messi and Kane Williamson are two individuals whom you can only admire, even though the former has a sizeable haters base due to his career-long rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi decided to retire from international football after Argentina’s heartbreaking defeats in the finals of the 2014 World Cup and the Copa America (twice, in 2015 and 2016). But what followed after that was beyond a fairytale story. The Argentine soon came out of retirement, put on one of his best-ever performances at the World Cup last year, and ultimately won the title he had always desired.
Williamson is currently in an almost identical situation. Even though he chose not to retire, everything is in place for the Kiwi to make an incredible comeback at the ODI World Cup in India following a serious injury.
How will he accomplish this, and who will be by his side? Let us take a closer look.
Batters: Kane Williamson, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Finn Allen
Will Young averages 49.33 in ODIs (Getty Images)
New Zealand provided Finn Allen with numerous opportunities to succeed Martin Guptill at the top order. However, after his abject failure, the Kiwi board recalled Will Young to give him another go. Young seized the opportunity, averaging 45.66 in 2022 and 58.66 this year over the course of a combined 13 innings, solidifying his position as an opener.
Allen, however, will still be in the mix as a back-up opener. If one of their regular middle-order batters falls short of expectations, Henry Nicholls, who has respectable ODI statistics (1749 runs at 34.92), might get a chance.
As stated by head coach Gary Stead, New Zealand will make every effort to have Williamson at the World Cup even if he is not fully fit before the showpiece event.
“I think that’s something we are talking about at the moment. If it’s the knockout stages, I think that might be too late because you’re really saying something that you may or may not even be there, but if it was earlier in the World Cup we’d definitely be considering it,” Gary Stead was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz.
Wicket-keepers: Tom Latham, Devon Conway
Tom Latham is Williamson's most trustworthy soldier in Kiwi force (Getty Images)
Arguably New Zealand's most underrated batsman at present,Tom Latham stepped up in 2022 (558 runs at 55.80) every time his team required him the most. Although his numbers (380 runs at 29.23) this year are not as impressive as last year, he will undoubtedly continue to bat at No. 5.
Unlike Latham, Conway has staggering numbers in 2023, having aggregated 308 runs in six outings with the help of two centuries and one half-century, that too at a strike rate of 106.20. He and Young are probably going to make up one of the most reliable opening pairs among the participating teams at the World Cup.
All-rounders: Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra
Daryl Mitchell can contribute significantly with both bat and ball (Getty Images)
In this particular area, New Zealand outperforms most of its rivals. They have Daryl Mitchell, who has stellar all-round numbers (829 runs at 43.63, 11 wickets at 19.36) to boast about. To compliment him, Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner, who can be equally productive in Indian conditions, will be by his side.
More significantly, all three will be included in the starting lineup, which is terrifying for the opposition, while Rachin Ravindra, in all likelihood, will be Santner's out-and-out backup.
Bowlers: Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson
Trent Boult can be a serious threat to the opposition at the World Cup 2023 (Getty Images)
On August 9, New Zealand recalled Trent Boult to play against England next month. The action sent ominous signals to the competitors by implying that he is now almost certain to participate in the World Cup. His partner-in-crime Tim Southee will be there to ably support him, while Lockie Ferguson is likely to be preferred over Matt Henry to form a three-member pace attack.
Despite not having particularly impressive ODI numbers (55 wickets in 46 matches), Ish Sodhi will be New Zealand's only designated spinner in their 15-member squad.
New Zealand's potential 15-member squad at the ODI World Cup 2023:
Kane Williamson (C), Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Finn Allen, Tom Latham (WK), Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson
New Zealand's probable XI at the ODI World Cup 2023:
Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson (C), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (WK), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson
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