Team Preview: Can the Kiwis soar to their first T20 World Cup win?

New Zealand 15 Man squad for T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Martin Guptill, Lockie Ferguson, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Trent Boult, Finn Allen.

New Zealand have had quite a rough time of late in test match cricket but they've been very good in the shortest format of the game. Going back a few months they've won series against Scotland, Netherlands, West Indies and made the finals of the tri series involving Pakistan and Bangladesh. However, they lost that final and the subsequent warm up games against the Proteas at Brisbane.

Batting

New Zealand have experimented quite a lot with their batting line up recently with Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Martin Guptill all opening at various times. Skipper Kane Williamson seems a lock at number 3 while Glenn Philips should slot in at number 4. Daryl Mitchell was injured recently and his participation at this point seems to be up in the air.

James Neesham, Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner all provide lower order hitting ability to take the Kiwis to a powerful finish with the bat.

Bowling

The pace battery of New Zealand is envious with experience and raw pace both being present. Boult and Southee remain a formidable pair capable of swinging the match at any point. Milne and Ferguson provide the raw pace to hustle the opposing batsmen.

Santner, Sodhi and Bracewell provide spin options to Williamson with Bracewell doing very well recently in clutch moments. Neesham can also roll the arm over for a few overs if required.

New Zealand Fixtures T20 World Cup 2022

22 October: v Australia at SCG

25 October: v Afghanistan at MCG

28 October: v Sri Lanka at SCG

31 October: v England at Brisbane

4 November: v Ireland at Adelaide

New Zealand Probable Starting XI for T20 World Cup 2022

Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Kane Williamson, Glenn Philips, Daryl Mitchell/ Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner/ Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson

The Kiwis have a very balanced side and they generally find a way to do well at ICC events. Having made the finals in the last T20 World Cup and lost to their neighbours Australia, they'll be keen to go one up this time. I feel they will have to work hard to get to the semi finals with Australia, England and potentially Sri Lanka as their opponents.

How do you see the chances for New Zealand? Will they go past the group stage?

Read Other Team Previews for the T20 World Cup 2022.