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Vettori could play second Test
Former New Zealand Test captain, Daniel Vettori, who was originally selected only for the one-day and Champions Trophy legs of the tour to England, could play an unexpected part in the second Test of the series against England at Headingley later this week. Read More...Broad leads England to thumping win
The first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord's continued to ebb and flow early on the fourth day, as each side appeared to have gained the upper hand, before their opponents found a way to drag themselves back into the game. Read More...Taylor, Southee help New Zealand at Lord's
New Zealand continued to make a mockery of the current ICC Test match rankings, as they again had the better of a day's play against England. This time, the second day of the first Test at Lord's. Read More...Joe Root continues good form
The 22 year-old England Lions captain, Joe Root continued his outstanding form of the summer on the final day of the rain ruined tour match against New Zealand ahead of next week's first Test match, at Lord's. Read More...Joe Root named captain of England Lions
After a winter in which he made astonishing, if unexpected strides onto the international stage, Joe Root finds himself named as the captain of the England Lions (effectively the 2nd XI) for the four day match against the touring New Zealand team, which is due to start at Leicester on May 9. Read More...Luke Ronchi selected for New Zealand Champions Trophy squad
There were more surprises in the squad that the New Zealand selectors announced for the one-day series against England, and the Champions Trophy being played in England in June, than there were in the squad for the two Test series against England starting in May. Read More...New Zealand on the verge of superb win
When England arrived in New Zealand, they were the second ranked side in the world, while their hosts were a lowly ranked eighth in the ICC's Test table, and had come from a humiliating series defeat in South Africa, in which they had showed little resistance or willingness to fight their own corner. Read More...- Champions League build, second Test action and more - SkySportsWe gave him every chance to play in this game but he didn't quite make it and didn't want to let the team down." Vettori's absence means Doug Bracewell will come into New Zealand's line-up as part of an all-seam attack - supplemented by top-order ...
- England v New Zealand / News - ESPNcricinfo.comWith zero match play of late and pretty ordinary recent past performances with bat and ball it would have been madness to have picked Vettori. Loved the remarks from SameOld. What more drama can nz cricket produce? We long suffering supporters have ...
- Follow all the build-up to the fight of the year - SkySportsNew Zealand are certain to make changes to their line-up when the game does finally get underway - spinner Bruce Martin and wicketkeeper BJ Watling have both been ruled out after picking up injuries in the first Test. Black Caps skipper Brendon ...
- New Zealand cricket captain has faith in batsmen, despite loss to England - South China Morning PostEngland went 1-0 up in the two-match series, with more than a day to spare, after dismissing New Zealand for just 68 to secure victory by the huge margin of 170 runs. Stuart Broad, who took a test-best seven for 44, did the bulk of the damage as New ...
- Daniel Vettori in line for test cricket return - Stuff.co.nzBut it's a matter of whether we think he's going to be able to get through five days of a test match. We won't risk Dan for the sake of a test. But in saying that it is an important test match for us," Hesson said. "Dan loves playing for New Zealand ...
- England v New Zealand: Daniel Vettori out of Headingley Test - BBC SportDaniel Vettori's Test future is in doubt after the spinner was ruled out of New Zealand's second match of the series against England at Headingley. ...
- Here we go again - sportal.co.nzThese lessons are not unexpected. For too long New Zealand has got by on its ability to occasionally reach the semi-finals of shorter form tournaments or to win the odd one-day series. They do not require the sort of attention to detail that Test match ...
- Cricket: Lord's offers unique - New Zealand Herald
- Cricket: McCullum reflects on where it all went wrong - New Zealand HeraldSouthee looked numb despite becoming just the fifth New Zealand bowler to earn an etching on the visitors' bowling honours board with second innings figures of six for 50 and match figures of 10 for 108. "I'm gutted with the result. No one goes out ...
- Cricket: Bracewell, Wagner bowling off for spot - New Zealand HeraldNew Zealand's first warm-up match before the test series against England has become a personal duel between the two men competing for the third seamer spot at Lord's. With ace pair Tim Southee and Trent Boult watching on at the County Ground in Derby, ...
New Zealand ICC World Cup 2011 Profile
New Zealand national cricket team
Strength
New Zealand is the one side that epitomises a fighting culture. Individually, they may possess the best of talents given that cricket is not the favourite sport in the country – others like rugby and soccer take precedence. However, the New Zealand side is known to give some of the opposition a run for their money with their ability to fight tooth and nail as a unit.
Weakness
Unfortunately for New Zealand, apart from their captain Daniel Vettori and a couple others, the lack of talent is a serious issue. The bowling hasn’t done much to earn itself too many brownie points in recent times and Vettori is a one-man army. On tracks that will be a far cry from those found back home, the Kiwi pace bowlers may not do too well and that is where the oppositions will have a good time against the New Zealand team.
Opportunity
New Zealand’s best opportunity is to get to the quarter-final and hope that they play as a unit and the opposition allows a little bit of complacency to set in. Apart from that, they need their top-order to fire away in order to allow the inexperienced bowling to get a buffer of runs.
Threat
New Zealand had recently lost an ODI series to Bangladesh 0-4, a shocking defeat in every aspect of the word. Bangladesh isn’t a side which is known to win too many matches let alone series and the Kiwi captain Vettori had been cocky enough to say that if they played to their potential, there was a good chance to win the series 5-0. As it turned out, New Zealand were woeful and lost 0-4. One of the major reasons for the loss was the batsmen’s inability to play spin bowlers on the slow and low wickets. Such a scenario could repeat in the World Cup given that it is going to be played in the sub-continent and could be their biggest threat.
Previous Record
Much like South Africa, New Zealand have never entered the final of the World Cup despite featuring in all of them. Their best standing in any of the World Cups is a semi-final berth that they had achieved in each of the 1975, 1979, 1992, 1999 and 2007. Unfortunately for them, they were always outplayed by a better team and never got to the final. In the rest of the tournaments, their best performance came in the 1996 World Cup when they got to the quarter-final and amassed 289 in the 50 overs before being ousted by a spirited Australian chase.
Expected Captain
Daniel Vettori will lead the side through to the World Cup.
Players to look out for
How the likes of Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder bat in the tournament will go a long way in deciding the manner in which the Kiwis will play. All three are aggressive and have played in the Indian conditions during the IPL which should keep them in good stead for the tournament.