New Zealand’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Squad: Get to Know the Players and Their Match Records
New Zealand have named their 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be held in India from October 13 to November 26. The squad, led by captain Kane Williamson, features a mix of experienced and young players, who will be aiming to lift the coveted trophy for the first time.
Williamson, who missed the recent T20I series against Bangladesh due to a ruptured ACL, has been declared fit and will be playing his fourth World Cup. He will be joined by veteran fast bowler Tim Southee, who is also set to appear in his fourth World Cup. Southee is the most experienced player in the squad with 153 ODIs under his belt.
The squad also includes wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham, who will be the vice-captain and will provide stability in the middle order. Latham has scored 3,674 runs in 107 ODIs at an average of 36.74 and has four centuries to his name.
Here is the full list of players along with their age, role and previous World Cup matches:
| Name | Age | Role | Previous World Cup Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kane Williamson | 33 | Top order batter, Right arm offbreak | 2011, 2015, 2019 |
| Tom Latham | 31 | Wicketkeeper batter, Right arm medium | 2015, 2019 |
| Devon Conway | 32 | Wicketkeeper batter, Right arm medium | N/A |
| Glenn Phillips | 26 | Wicketkeeper batter, Right arm offbreak | N/A |
| Will Young | 30 | Top order batter, Right arm offbreak | N/A |
| Mark Chapman | 29 | Allrounder, Slow left-arm orthodox | N/A |
| Daryl Mitchell | 32 | Batting allrounder, Right arm medium | N/A |
| James Neesham | 32 | Batting allrounder, Right arm medium-fast | 2015, 2019 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 23 | Batting allrounder, Slow left-arm orthodox | N/A |
| Mitchell Santner | 31 | Bowling allrounder, Slow left-arm orthodox | 2015, 2019 |
| Trent Boult | 34 | Bowler, Left arm fast-medium | 2011, 2015, 2019 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 32 | Bowler, Right arm fast | 2019 |
| Matt Henry | 31 | Bowler, Right arm fast-medium | 2015, 2019 |
| Ish Sodhi | 30 | Bowler, Legbreak googly and legbreak orthodox spin bowling styles. | 2015, 2019 |
| Tim Southee | 34 | Bowler, Right arm medium-fast | 2011, 2015, 2019 |
The batting department also features Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Will Young and Mark Chapman, who have all impressed in recent times. Conway, who made his ODI debut in May this year, has already scored two centuries and two fifties in nine matches. Phillips, who can also keep wickets, has scored 506 runs in 19 ODIs at a strike rate of 101.60. Young and Chapman have also shown their potential with some solid performances.
The all-rounders’ slot has been filled by Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham and Rachin Ravindra. Mitchell has been a consistent performer with both bat and ball, scoring 441 runs and taking 18 wickets in 15 ODIs. Neesham is a proven match-winner with his explosive batting and handy bowling, while Ravindra is a promising left-arm spinner and a capable batsman.
The bowling attack will be spearheaded by Trent Boult, who is one of the best fast bowlers in the world. Boult has taken 172 wickets in 96 ODIs at an average of 24.63 and an economy rate of 5.07. He will be supported by Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner. Ferguson is known for his pace and bounce, Henry for his swing and seam, Sodhi for his leg-spin and Santner for his left-arm spin and lower-order batting.
The squad was announced in a unique way by the New Zealand Cricket Board on Monday, 11 September. The board posted a video on its official Twitter handle, where each player was introduced by a young fan from different parts of the country. The video also featured some scenic views of New Zealand and some glimpses of the players’ achievements.
The squad announcement video received a lot of praise from fans and experts alike, who appreciated the creative and refreshing way of presenting the team. The video also showcased the diversity and talent of New Zealand cricket and its fan base.
New Zealand are placed in Group A of the World Cup along with England, Australia, South Africa, Afghanistan and Netherlands. They will begin their campaign against England on October 15 at Ahmedabad.
