nEw zeaLanD..kiWis..the most underRaTed bunch

kiWis are the most underRaTed bunch of crikKeteRs. nEw zeaLanD was the first team who started utilizing the 15 over fielding restrictions (imposed since the '92 world cUP) intelligently. The dynamic captaincy of Martin Crowe in the '92 cUP saw him promoting Mark Greatbatch to open the innings for nEw zeaLanD who tore the bowling apart (time and again) and has shown the world how to utilize the first 15 overs...and the rest as you all know is hiStorY. It was during the same time that the great nEw zeaLanD leader showed the world how to utlize spin bowling in the first 15 overs effectively by opening with Deepak Patel. ofcourse the game has progressed much more in the last 15 years but it was heartening to see how nEw zeaLanD made an impact at that world cUP. The last 15 years has seen a rejuvenated nEw zeaLanD cricket team with a good crop of multi dimensional players.

If it was Sir Richard Hadlee who put nEw zeaLanD on the cricket map of the world with his bowling exploits in the 70s and 80s, it was Martin Crowe who got them competing with the toP teAms of the crikKet world with his batting exploits and radical captaincy in the late 80s and early 90s. In the later part of 90s, nEw zeaLanD saw a true leader in Stephen Fleming who many a times led the team from the front.

I was fortunate to meet with Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle in '95 at a Bangalore pub on a weekend. The nEw zeaLanD team was visiting iNdiA at that time! I had a long chat with the 2 great men. It was really sad to see Astle retire before the world cUP! The cricketing world does miss him a lot...who can forget the fastest double century ever hit in a test match in just 155balls! I forgot to mention that I met with Martin Crowe as well in '95 on a different occassion. Watch out for a complete story on these in the coming days!

The current team has a good blend of youth and experience and the important thing is that they have quite a few all rounders in the form of Scott Styris, Jacob Oram(he's the one who wants to play even with a broken finger or amputating his finger!), Craig Mc Millan, Daniel Vettori. The batting looks good with Lou Vincent and Fleming at the top followed by the new exciting talents Fulton and Taylor in the middle order followed by Styris, Mc Millan and Oram(if he'z fit to play). Brendon Mc Cullum is the explosive wicket keeper batsman who is the bridge between the top order and the tail. The bowling looks good with the fiery Bond and the agile Vettori supported by Franklin and the other all rounders! Fielding is one of their greatest aSSets!

It looks to be seen how fast the nEw zeaLanDers can adapt to the pitches on the other side of the world in the caRRibean. All said and done, I would still rate them 7th favorite in my list to win this 9th edition of the coVeted tropHY!

We will discuss about the 6th favorite team to win the cUP tomorrow...until then
goOd eVening and gOoD luCk.