NZ are perennial underachievers in non world cup ODI cricket, but they are over achievers in World Cups. Unexpectedly they have reached 5 semi finals out of 9. And when they have reached semi-final, India has not. When India has, they have not.
Other interesting fact is they have not reached semis in 2 consecutive semi-finals.
1992 : NZ , no India
1996: No NZ, India
1999: NZ, No India
2003: No NZ, India
2007 : NZ, no India
So going by this trend Kiwis wont make it to the semis and India would make it.
Well its not just this trend that goes against them ,but also the form they are in goes against them. Having won just 16 of 40 ODIs since Jan 2009 is a poor record for a team like NZ who has always achieved more than expected in ODIs than tests.
Their main batsman and main bowler is one man. Danny Vettori himself. He is also their captain and not too long back he used to be their selector too. But then he was sacked after disastrous subcontinent tour. They got drubbing of 0-4 and 0-5 in BD and India. They were only team to have played in all 3 hosts and should have had good match practice and conditions exp under their belt. On the contrary they could just win 1 game out of close to 14.
The batting lineup looks a lot thinner though they have players like Ross Taylor, Baz Macullum, Jesse Ryder and youngsters like Guptill, Williamson and others but they fail to click together as a unit.
They are in a tougher group with SL, Pak and Australia. They would be expected to go to the QF but the road would be a bit difficult. They can still hope to beat Pakistan, but getting past Australia would be tough. They have not beat Australia in a world cup game for 12 years now. They did beat them in 1999 and 1992 but after losing that game to NZ, they have not yet lost a game in the world cup till date.
They play their games in Chennai, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Pallekelelele and Mumbai (last 2). Their first game is against Kenya and 2nd one is a tough game vs Australia. They play one minnow and a strong team next. They will have to win all games against minnows and at least 1 against the remaining 3 to go ahead. And from there on, its all luck and day's conditions how good they play.
Expectations:
Tough to go past Quarter final based on the team they have got and the recent form.
1 Perspectives:
That's a nice little piece of trivia you have posted!
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