It’s easy to think that spinning the roulette wheel at an online casino is the quickest way of getting an adrenaline rush online.
Maybe so, but New Zealand’s cricket team is giving thrill seekers a run for their money right now.
In a sport traditionally dominated by giants such as India, England and Australia, there’s no doubt that the hottest thing in cricket right now is New Zealand’s Black Caps.
Here’s a look at their heroics over the past few months, and why there’s every chance they’ll head into this year’s T20 World Cup as quiet favorites.
New Zealand’s Dominant European Tour
Nations such as Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands aren’t exactly viewed highly in the cricketing world.
With lowly global rankings of 14th, 16th, and 18th respectively, the Black Caps’ recent tour of Europe was never about whether or not New Zealand could win these matches. It was how they would win them. And gosh, did New Zealand impress?
Overall, the three series against Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands accrued 11 straight wins for New Zealand in the white ball format, with no losses. A couple of the games went down to the wire—notably the first ODI against Ireland, where only Michael Bracewell playing out of his skin saw the Black Caps chase down Ireland’s score of 300 by striking 24 off the last over; and two games later, when a sublime batting effort saw Ireland fall one run short of New Zealand’s 360 total.
Outside of these two matches, it wasn’t even close. New Zealand piled on the pain, consistently scoring 170+ in their three T20Is against Ireland and containing them with ease. Scotland was put away by big margins of 68 runs, 102 runs, and seven wickets in their three white ball matches, while the Netherlands were also taken to task, bowled out for 132 in their first T20I, and New Zealand plundering 149 runs in 14 overs in the second T20I to wrap up the tour.
End result: New Zealand on a winning streak, with key players rested, significant depth built, and form developed across the board.
Acing the West Indies Question
Unsurprisingly, many were asking the question of how New Zealand’s Black Caps would fare against a tier one nation, given the limited challenge of Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
Two matches into their three T20I series against the West Indies, in the West Indies, and it appears that question has been answered: The Black Caps are just as good against top tier opposition, as they are against the European minnows.
Having wrapped up the series with a game to spare, the Black Caps have shown a continuation of their strong form in the opening two matches against the West Indies.
Game one saw New Zealand bat first, and post an impressive 185/5, on a ground where the par score was in the 150s. Two returning players were the ones to shine for New Zealand, with both Devon Conway and Kane Williamson making tidy 40s at a strike rate of 140+ at the top of the innings. The West Indies then never looked threatening in their chase, the margin of 13 runs flattering the home side courtesy of a late flourish.
Game two saw New Zealand ascend to even greater heights. Batting first again, they piled on a whopping 215/5, shattering the ground record for the highest T20 score. Glenn Phillips starred, crushing 76 off 41, assisted by Darryl Mitchell’s 48 off 20. Again, the West Indies were unable to make a contest out of the match, slumping to 28/5 and then 87/9, before finally limping to 125/9 and a loss of 90 runs.
When asked the question of whether they could perform against the top sides, New Zealand responded in an emphatic fashion.
The 2022 T20 World Cup and Beyond
Looking ahead to October’s 2022 T20 World Cup, New Zealand is quietly building to be a favorite come the tournament’s start.
Many analysts don’t even have them in the conversation, given the Black Caps ranking of 5th in the world, and relative lack of game time in the first half of 2022 through Covid-19 cancellations.
However, there’s no denying now that New Zealand are real contenders for the 2022 T20 World Cup trophy. Last year, they fell one game short by making the final. They’re also the current World Test Championship holders, as well as having made the last two ODI World Cup finals.
With a 13-0 winning streak strung together over the last two months, and no sign of New Zealand slowing down, it’s clear that they’re the hottest thing in cricket right now.
Move aside India, the Black Caps are cricket’s superstars in 2022.
