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After recent defeats against Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, the Though New Zealand boast of a long history in cricket, they have never really been a big force in the game. But they, sure, are an unpredictable team who cannot be wished away by any team. The Black Caps, as the Kiwi cricket team is known, have a record in the cricket World Cup, which is not something to be trifled with. They have made the semi-final cut five times, but their campaign invariably ended there, to the mortification of loyal fans back home. When New Zealand co-hosted the World Cup with neighbours Australia in 1992, they put up a magnificent show in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, winning their first seven games in a remarkable display of consistency, but were beaten in the semi-finals by eventual champions Pakistan, which was led by the charismatic Imran Khan. The 1992 edition was also remembered for many reasons other than cricket, as it was then that coloured clothing was introduced in the World Cup for the first time.
New Zealand were also the semi-finalists in the first two World Cups held in England (1975 and 1979, both won by the West Indies), and later in 1999 (again in England) and 2007 (West Indies). As they gear up for the 10th World Cup, the Kiwis are virtually scraping the bottom, after suffering humiliating defeat in away series against Bangladesh and India, and a Test series loss to Pakistan at home. But the New Zealand cricket bosses have avoided wholesale changes in the World Cup squad. Chief selector Mark Greatbatch has gone on record saying that the team have a point to prove after losing their past 11 ODIs. He said the selectors had kept faith in the bulk of the players, who featured in the five-match ODI series against India as they hope that the Black Caps would "put in a huge performance at the World Cup as they owe it to themselves and the New Zealand fans." Tim Southee, with a five-wicket haul, and Jesse Ryder, with a blistering 55, set up a nine-wicket victory for New Zealand in the six-match ODI series against Pakistan at home, after losing the Test series, to warm the cockles of the national selectors ahead of the World Cup. It was the first win for the Black Caps after losing their previous 11 ODIs. The Kiwi team has an experienced bunch with the core comprising six players, who helped the team reach the semi-finals for the fifth time at the 2007 World Cup. All-rounder Luke Woodcock, 28, is the only uncapped player in the squad, earning a place in the team on the strength of his strong performance in the domestic team Wellington. Woodcock’s inclusion will give the Kiwi team the option of playing three spinners in the sub-continent conditions, though it was a surprise to see the injury-prone Jacob Oram making the cut. Jamie How, who could not set the stands on fire with his batting on the India tour, got a call-up mainly because of his ability to provide wicket-keeping back-up to Brendon McCullum. Ross Taylor, who was picked up for $1 million in the IPL auction, is another player the Kiwis look up to deliver. Veteran of many battles, Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori has declared that he will step down from captaincy after the World Cup. He hopes to make his swan song a lilting one. With former Indian coach John Wright at the helm, Vettori has all the reasons to look ahead for a better display in this World Cup, compared to their dismal performances in the recent past. New Zealand have an easy opening match against Kenya at Chennai on February 20, which will be the second of the tournament. Placed in Group A alongside Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya, the Kiwis yet again fancy their chances of a semifinal berth.
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Though
Kiwis remember 1992 World Cup for a different reason, as captain
Martin Crowe became the first captain to win the man of the series
award.
