With the ICC World Cup only two months away, selectors will be finalising their preliminary squads before trimming it to 15 lucky men.
This is the squad that New Zealand should take to the tournament.
The batsmen are Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (captain), Will Young and Ross Taylor, with Mitch Santner, James Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme the all-rounders plus Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls providing the two wicketkeeping options.
In the bowling department, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson are the quicks while Ish Sodhi and Jeetan Patel are the spinners.
Guptill, Williamson and Taylor are all world-class players and can single-handedly win games for New Zealand like they have done so many times.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson leads a strong Kiwi outfit to the 2019 World Cup. (AFP PHOTO / MARTY MELVILLE)
While Will Young is uncapped at international level, he’s done well in domestic cricket and for New Zealand A. Colin Munro has had way too many chances to get away with averaging under 30 without a single ODI ton.
Neesham, Santner and De Grandhomme are all bowling all-rounders but can bat according to the situation.
Neesham recently showed his finishing powers by smashing 47 off 13 in his ODI return to the side.
Santner had surgery last year and was out for about nine months but prior to his injury he was instrumental to New Zealand’s white-ball success. He’s been a bit rusty coming back from injury but a full IPL season will have him in good stead come World Cup.
De Grandhomme can be a bit of a liability at times but he’s a handy player to have in your squad and can change the momentum of a game with both bat and ball on a given day.
Tom Latham has been doing well as keeper since Luke Ronchi retired and his batting in the middle overs has improved as well.
Henry Nicholls has kept at domestic level but never in international cricket. Nicholls has also been promoted to the top of the order to open recently and that allows New Zealand to play an extra all-rounder and two possible keepers in their starting line-up.
Swing kings Tim Southee and Trent Boult need no introduction. We all saw what they did in the World Cup four years ago.
While pitches in England are flatter these days, that pair still pose a threat with the new ball.
Matt Henry is a good back-up option for the Kiwis should they want to rest Southee or Boult.
Ish Sodhi is the best leg spinner in New Zealand cricket and his loopy googlies are still tough to pick. His downside is he flights the ball too much and doesn’t vary his pace, but nonetheless he’s still a very good bowler.
Todd Astle is a good leg spinner as well but he bowls too many half volleys and full tosses for a front-line spinner.
Therefore Jeetan Patel would be my second pick as spinner. He hasn’t played ODI cricket in two years but he’s got it in him and can do the job as second spinner over Todd Astle.
Targa
Guest
Hamish Rutherford has had a good season as a white ball opener
Targa
Guest
I'd like to see Will Young get a crack, but I think it's unlikely. I expect this side Starting XI Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Colin De Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult Plus 4 others Colin Munro, Tim Seifert, Tim Southee, Todd Astle/Ish Sodhi (too hard to pick) I also expect some players will be "encouraged" to be in the UK in case of injury such as: Sodhi/Astle, Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Corey Anderson, Adam Milne, Scott Kugglejin
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Yeah mate. I am a New Zealander. Worker has had enough chances. Funny how you say he isn’t an opener as that’s where he has always batted. The only other opening option is Colin Munro and based on his current form it’s a brave call taking him. If we went slightly left field Needham has opened in the past and Seifert generally bats up the order in limited overs for his Domestic team. Latham has batted there as well but I like him in the middle order as he’s a good player of spin.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Yeah would be more likely if neither Astle or Patel was selected and Seifert was selected as well. Young should've played in the UAE over George Worker who's not an opener IMO. Would've boosted his confidence had he been given a chance. I'm presuming you're Kiwi. Are there any other players who could be a backup opener for Nicholls and Guptill?
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Big call saying Jeetan Patel will go. He is close to 40 and has barely played any cricket of late. In saying that he has done really well in England playing County Cricket. I still cant see him getting selected. That is probably the only person I disagree with you, otherwise you are pretty close to the mark. They could opt to only take 2 spinners and take Tim Seifert as a wicket-keeper backup or he may get the nod ahead of Will Young. I would have no issues of Young being selected as he has definitely earned the chance. Will depend if the selectors are confident in debuting him in a big tournament. They missed a trick by not giving him some matches this summer in any of the ODI series we have had.