New Zealand's performance in the ODI World Cup history has been a captivating tale of determination and resilience. The Kiwis, as they are fondly known, have consistently been strong contenders in this prestigious cricket tournament.
Over the years, New Zealand has showcased their cricketing prowess, often punching above their weight. Their journey in the World Cup has witnessed several memorable moments, including reaching the semi-finals on numerous occasions.
The pinnacle of their achievement came in the 2015 World Cup when they reached the final for the first time, only to narrowly lose to Australia. The Kiwis' aggressive yet balanced approach to the game has won them fans worldwide.
With a roster of talented players like Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, and Trent Boult, New Zealand remains a formidable team in the ODI World Cup. Their sportsmanship and never-give-up attitude make them a team to watch out for in every edition of this prestigious tournament.
The Kiwi squad will be in the spotlight in the upcoming ODI World Cup again. We bring you a detailed SWOT analysis of the New Zealand squad for the upcoming tournament. The top bookmakers have WC squads with them.
Strengths
Experience is the primary strength of the New Zealand team in the upcoming ODI World Cup. With skipper Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, and Trent Boult in the team, the guidance for the rest of the players will be close to perfect and the new players will learn how to handle pressure in tough situations.
Another strength of New Zealand will be their bowling lineup. Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, and Lockie Ferguson form the ferocious bowling unit for the team. All these four bowlers are performing at their best and will give trouble to some of the best batting units during the tournament.
Weaknesses
In recent times, New Zealand's middle order has been inconsistent. They have often relied on their top order to score big runs, and if they lose early wickets, it can put a lot of pressure on the middle order to deliver. Another concern is the lack of experience in the middle order.
New Zealand have a number of talented young players, such as Glenn Phillips and Devon Conway, but they have not played a lot of ODI cricket. This could be a problem in big matches, where the pressure is on.
The retirement of Ross Taylor has left a major void in the middle order of the team but before the tournament begins, the team management will have to take some necessary steps.
Opportunity
New Zealand have a number of talented young players in their squad for the ODI World Cup 2023. These players could play a key role in the team's success, especially if some of the more experienced players are not in form.
Glenn Philips, Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Rachin Ravindran, and Ish Sodhi will be in the spotlight during the tournament. They are talented, ambitious, and eager to prove themselves. If they can perform to their full potential, they could help New Zealand to the pinnacle of success in the ODI World Cup.
Threat
New Zealand's star fast bowler Tim Southee is a doubt for the ODI World Cup 2023 after dislocating his right thumb. Southee sustained the injury while fielding during the fourth ODI against England at Lord's. Southee is one of the most experienced and important players in the New Zealand team. He is a world-class bowler who can take wickets in all conditions.
He is also a very good fielder and a valuable asset to the team in the lower order. It is not yet clear that he will be part of the ODI World Cup with New Zealand because of his injury but his absence will definitely hurt the bowling attack of Kiwis.
