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New Zealand Special
16
Callum McKenzie runs the rule over the
players likely to feature for New Zealand
against England at Trent Bridge in June.
New Zealand will arrive at Trent Bridge in
June having played One-Day International
series against Sri Lanka, South Africa and
England during the winter.
Given England’s excellent record in home
ODIs under Alastair Cook, the five-match
series should prove to be a stern test for
Ross Taylor’s
side.
At the time of going to print, the Black
Caps’ most recent result was a 14-run
Duckworth Lewis defeat to Sri Lanka
in Pallekele. Having elected to bat, they
posted 250-6 from their 50 overs with
Taylor top-scoring with 72 from 62 balls
and wicketkeeper BradleyWatling chipping
in with 55 from 86 balls.
As of 4 November, the ICC ODI
Championship table had New Zealand
ranked as the 8th best ODI team in the world.
Of the Test playing nations, only Bangladesh
and Zimbabwe are belowMike Hesson’s side.
Having reached the semi-finals of the ICC
Cricket World Cup 2011, the Black Caps
have flattered to deceive.
Defeats in recent series against South
Africa and West Indies, tempered with
victory over a re-emerging Zimbabwe in
February of this year suggest a team in
transition under new skipper Taylor.
Captain since Daniel Vettori stepped down
after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011,
the 28-year-old outlined his credentials
for the top job with a score of 131 not out
for the Black Caps in their 110-run
demolition of Pakistan in the group stages
of the competition.
Since being made captain, Taylor has led
from the front, with innings of 119 and
110 against Zimbabwe and West Indies
respectively.
Alongside Taylor, the highest-rated New
Zealand batsman is the explosive
Brendon
McCullum
.
The Dunedin-born opening wicketkeeper-
batsman has four one-day international
centuries, including 119 against Zimbabwe
at Napier earlier this year.
However, it is perhaps in t20 internationals
where he has made his name. The 123 he
made against Bangladesh at this year’s ICC
World t20 in Sri Lanka has seen him take
over the highest score by an individual in
international t20.
The first man to two international t20
hundreds, McCullum has Indian Premier
League experience with the Kolkata Knight
Riders and the Kochi Tuskers Kerala.
The last time the Black Caps toured
England, McCullum top scored for the
tourists in the opening two matches in the
defeat at Chester-le-Street and the no result
at Edgbaston.
His 10-year limited-overs career has seen him
achieve his highest one-day international score
of 166 against Ireland at Aberdeen in 2008.
In an opening partnership of 274 with James
Marshall, the Black Caps posted 402-2 from
their 50 overs with McCullum’s innings of
166 containing 12 fours and 10 sixes.
The tourist’s highest ranked ODI bowler
is
Kyle Mills
. Having made his ODI debut
against Pakistan in 2001, Mills marked
his first appearance with the wicket of
Imran Nazir.
In his latest outing at Pallekele, Mills again
took a single wicket, this time dismissing
opener Upul Tharanga for six.
His best bowling analysis came in a two-
wicket defeat against South Africa at
Durban in November 2007.
With the South Africans chasing 249 for
victory, Mills claimed the crucial wickets of
MorneVanWyk and Jacques Kallis, but his 5-25
ultimately could not prevent a Proteas victory.
Jacob Oram
is the Black Caps’ leading all-
rounder. Alongside his duties for the Black
Caps, Oram has limited overs experience
with Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan
Royals and Sri Lankan Premier League
franchise Uva Next.
Having taken five wickets in an innings
twice for the Black Caps, Oram’s prowess
as New Zealand’s leading limited overs all-
rounder is there for all to see.
Tickets are now on sale for England’s
NatWest Series One-Day International
against New Zealand at Trent Bridge
onWednesday 5 June 2013.Visit
trentbridge.co.uk or call 0844 811 8711
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