Monday, September 21, 2009

Champions Trophy team guide (New Zealand)


New Zealand have traditionally been stronger in one-day cricket than Tests - but winning the Champions Trophy (in its former guise as the ICC Knock Out) in 2000 still represents the high point of their limited-overs endeavours.

Daniel Vettori's side have had a mixed 2009 - drawing a one-day series in Australia but losing to India. They reached the Super Eight stage of the World Twenty20 but despite winning both Twenty20 internationals in Sri Lanka, were beaten by both the hosts and India in the triangular ODI series that followed.

However, they have powerful hitters at the top of the order in Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder, plus the classy Ross Taylor, while seamer Kyle Mills and canny left-arm spinner Vettori are both in the top three bowlers in the ICC's ODI rankings.

Shane Bond, their only bowler of genuine pace, is back in international cricket after an Indian Cricket League-related spell in the wilderness - and coach Andy Moles will hope he can be the missing piece in the jigsaw to help them compete with the favourites.

Six hitters: Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Jesse Ryder, Jacob Oram

Death bowler extraordinaire: Kyle Mills

Toe-cruncher: Shane Bond

Best fielder: Ross Taylor

Who are you?: Brendon Diamanti (Bowling all-rounder with the ability to clear the ropes coming in lower down the order)

Squad: Daniel Vettori (capt), Shane Bond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Brendon Diamanti, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins (wk), Brendon McCullum (wk), Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey.

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