New Zealand ODI Squad for World Cup 2023

New Zealand, a team with a history of performing well on the big stage but faltering at crucial moments, enters yet another World Cup with high hopes, experience, and aspirations. The runners-up from the previous edition, the Kiwis will be led by Kane Williamson, who was the player of the tournament in the 2019 World Cup. The team possesses a good blend of experience and youth, but several factors need consideration as they prepare for their opening match on October 5th in Ahmedabad, where they'll face a rematch of the 2019 final.

1.    Kane Williamson (c)
2.    Trent Boult
3.    Mark Chapman
4.    Devon Conway
5.    Lockie Ferguson
6.    Matt Henry
7.    Tom Latham
8.    Daryl Mitchell
9.    Jimmy Neesham
10.    Glenn Phillips
11.    Rachin Ravindra
12.    Mitch Santner
13.    Ish Sodhi
14.    Tim Southee
15.    Will Young

The Kiwi batting lineup looks rather depleted due to the absence of seasoned campaigners like Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Colin Munro, and concerns about skipper Williamson's limited recent cricketing activity. Since January 2022, their openers have scored 2286 runs at an average of 33.6. This average is 9th best among 10 participating teams and only ahead of Bangladesh. 

Devon Conway and Will Young will open the innings, with Kane Williamson taking the number 3 position. Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell will occupy slots in the middle order. Latham, Mitchell, Phillips, and Santner have contributed significantly to these runs. New Zealand openers will have to come good and show strong resolve to provide a planform to their middle order batters.

New Zealand's strength lies in their middle order. The kiwi middle order batters have done substantially well compared to their opening counterparts. They have accumulated 3664 runs since January 2022, losing a wicket every 35.6 runs. This is the second-highest average for a middle order after South Africa. 

The selectors have included 5 all-rounders in the squad, with Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra expected to play crucial roles in Indian conditions, which often favour spinners. However, the more experienced of the two, Mitchell Santner, has faced challenges in India, taking just 9 wickets in 11 ODIs at an average of 51.44 and scoring 193 runs at 24.12.

Rachin Ravindra, who made his ODI debut this year, has claimed 12 wickets in as many ODIs but needs to lower his economy rate, which currently stands at 6.12. His innings of 61 against England represents his sole half-century in the format.

James Neesham, retained from the 2019 World Cup squad, contributes with both bat and ball in the lower middle order. However, his recent records have been modest, with 117 runs at 23.4 and only 1 wicket in 7 innings, with an average and strike rate well above 200.

Daryl Mitchell is another valuable option, batting in the middle order and excelling as an all-rounder. Prior to 2022, he had bowled only twice, but since then, he has taken 13 wickets in 10 innings at an impressive average of 17.69 and a strike rate of 19.3.

The formidable pair of Tim Southee and Trent Boult has returned to bolster New Zealand's pace attack, a welcome development, especially in Indian conditions where both experienced bowlers have excelled over the years. Boult, in particular, is known for his ability to pick up early wickets and make an impact in the death overs with his swing, pace, and variations. Although Boult opted out of a central contract for a period, he made a promising return to international cricket before the World Cup, claiming 28 wickets in just 10 innings since 2022. New Zealand bowling attack has the 3rd best wicket taking ability among all participating nations in this World Cup.

New Zealand's bowling attack collectively boasts a strike rate of 33.3, ranking 7th among other teams. Thanks to Boult's remarkable comeback, New Zealand's strike rate in the first powerplay stands at 35, second only to India and Bangladesh. Boult has taken 16 of his 28 wickets in the first 10 overs. Henry has claimed 18 wickets in this stage, second only to India's Mohammad Siraj.

Express pace will be crucial on flat Indian tracks, where Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson stand out. Henry, New Zealand's leading wicket-taker since 2022, has taken 32 scalps in 20 innings, with a strike rate of 33.5 and an average of 27.15. The Kiwi pace attack, comprising Henry, Boult, Southee, and Ferguson, includes the only bowlers who have taken 20 or more wickets since 2022.

Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi will lead the spin attack in the World Cup, partnering with Santner, and occasionally, Rachin Ravindra, depending on the conditions. In his 3 ODIs in India, Sodhi has averaged 38 for his 4 wickets. In 16 matches since 2022, Sodhi has taken 18 wickets, with his best figures being 6/39 against Bangladesh earlier this year.

The concern arises in the middle overs, where the strike rate is 43, with only Netherlands having a worse middle-over bowling strike rate since 2022. None of the Kiwi bowlers feature in the top 20 wicket-takers' list during this phase.

Leading the pace attack will be Tim Southee, participating in his fourth World Cup. He boasts an impressive tournament record, with 34 wickets in 18 innings, averaging 25.11 and striking every 28.6 balls. Southee has also claimed 25 wickets in 16 ODIs in India, where his average hovers around 30. He has taken 10 wickets during the final stages of an inning, providing a crucial boost to the Kiwi bowling attack. Their strike rate of every 16.3 balls since 2022, with an economy of 7.9, is only better than Netherlands'.