Predat0r
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New Zealand have lost ten straight T20I games © Getty
For a team that's low on confidence, the last thing they would want is to get clubbed alongside India and Australia in a group. To make it to the semifinal for the first time since 2016, New Zealand will have to topple one of these two teams, if not both. While on paper New Zealand are expected to get the job done against the other two teams - Pakistan and Sri Lanka - there are no guarantees given their wretched form.
Having already not made it to the last four stages in the previous three editions, New Zealand are entering the 2024 tournament on the back of 10 straight losses in the format, which includes a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Australia just a few days ago. Expanding it further, in their last 16 games, they have won only two and lost fourteen. Post the 2023 T20 World Cup, they have suffered a series loss four times, including one to Pakistan at home.
The runners-up of the first two editions have certainly fallen behind. For them to get anywhere near those levels, New Zealand will heavily rely on two players who played in those two editions way back. Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine are still central to New Zealand's plans. The latter has announced that she will no longer lead the team in this format after the tournament. With the next tournament two years away, this could even be a swansong competition for the duo that has featured in every single T20 World Cup so far. If New Zealand are to turn their fortunes around, Devine and Bates will need all the help they can get.
Form Guide (latest T20I first) - LLLLL
Full Squad: Sophie Devine (C), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
Keep an eye on: Amelia Kerr. She turned heads at the age of just 17 with her exploits. Still young at 23, Kerr is one of New Zealand's most experienced players having already represented them over 150 times in international cricket. She wasn't consistent enough during this poor run for New Zealand but in the two warm-up games so far prior to the World Cup, she has shone with both bat and ball, scoring over 100 runs while also picking three wickets.
Marquee Match: Despite the recent 3-0 drubbing, the head-to-head record between New Zealand and Australia isn't extremely one-sided. New Zealand have beaten them 21 times, while losing 28. The Trans-Tasman rivalry does add some spark to this clash and for New Zealand in particular, their fate could very well rest on this clash given it's their second game of the tournament. Their first one is against the other heavyweight - India.
Where they finished in 2023: Group stage exit. New Zealand narrowly missed out on a semifinal berth on NRR.
Full league stage schedule:
vs India, October 4 in Dubai at 6 PM local | 7:30 PM IST
vs Australia, October 8 in Sharjah at 6 PM local | 7:30 PM IST
vs Sri Lanka, October 12 in Sharjah at 2 PM local | 3:30 PM IST
vs Pakistan, October 14 in Dubai at 6 PM local | 7:30 PM IST
For a team that's low on confidence, the last thing they would want is to get clubbed alongside India and Australia in a group. To make it to the semifinal for the first time since 2016, New Zealand will have to topple one of these two teams, if not both. While on paper New Zealand are expected to get the job done against the other two teams - Pakistan and Sri Lanka - there are no guarantees given their wretched form.
Having already not made it to the last four stages in the previous three editions, New Zealand are entering the 2024 tournament on the back of 10 straight losses in the format, which includes a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Australia just a few days ago. Expanding it further, in their last 16 games, they have won only two and lost fourteen. Post the 2023 T20 World Cup, they have suffered a series loss four times, including one to Pakistan at home.
The runners-up of the first two editions have certainly fallen behind. For them to get anywhere near those levels, New Zealand will heavily rely on two players who played in those two editions way back. Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine are still central to New Zealand's plans. The latter has announced that she will no longer lead the team in this format after the tournament. With the next tournament two years away, this could even be a swansong competition for the duo that has featured in every single T20 World Cup so far. If New Zealand are to turn their fortunes around, Devine and Bates will need all the help they can get.
Form Guide (latest T20I first) - LLLLL
Full Squad: Sophie Devine (C), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
Keep an eye on: Amelia Kerr. She turned heads at the age of just 17 with her exploits. Still young at 23, Kerr is one of New Zealand's most experienced players having already represented them over 150 times in international cricket. She wasn't consistent enough during this poor run for New Zealand but in the two warm-up games so far prior to the World Cup, she has shone with both bat and ball, scoring over 100 runs while also picking three wickets.
Marquee Match: Despite the recent 3-0 drubbing, the head-to-head record between New Zealand and Australia isn't extremely one-sided. New Zealand have beaten them 21 times, while losing 28. The Trans-Tasman rivalry does add some spark to this clash and for New Zealand in particular, their fate could very well rest on this clash given it's their second game of the tournament. Their first one is against the other heavyweight - India.
Where they finished in 2023: Group stage exit. New Zealand narrowly missed out on a semifinal berth on NRR.
Full league stage schedule:
vs India, October 4 in Dubai at 6 PM local | 7:30 PM IST
vs Australia, October 8 in Sharjah at 6 PM local | 7:30 PM IST
vs Sri Lanka, October 12 in Sharjah at 2 PM local | 3:30 PM IST
vs Pakistan, October 14 in Dubai at 6 PM local | 7:30 PM IST