Coming of Age of New Zealand

Known to cricketing world as the Kiwis, they were never a team of superstars such as their neighbours Australia or India, but they were a competitive lot never to be undermined. Apart from Sir Richard Hadlee, Martin Crowe and Danny Morrison not many more Kiwis got the cult status in the cricketing world. One of the major positives of this team was their team play. They believed they could do well with the collective contributions of all the players. Then came the era of light when a group of superstars in the likes of Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, etc. Stephen Fleming went on to become the most successful captain of New Zealand with the able help of his counterparts. This was a time when they challenged any team in the world and often defeated the best teams in the world with ease. 

Greatbatch and Patel Catalysts of Success in 92

Kiwis came into the limelight with their stellar performances during eth 1992 World Cup. Martin Crowe and his unusual tactics became famous world over and they took many teams by surprise. Dipak Patel, the wily off spinner opened the bowling for New Zealand on the bouncy and pace filled tracks of Australia and New Zealand. Many teams found it hard to plan. On the batting front Mark Greatbatch with his flamboyant stroke play went on a merciless assault on the opponent bowlers. Many see this tactics as the evolution of Sanath Jayasuriya and pinch-hitting at the top of the ODI innings. Talented batsmen such as Martin Crowe and John Wright led the way on the batting front. They stormed into the semi-finals where their progress was halted by the eventual winners Pakistan. Martin Crowe finished as the leading run scorer in the competition. 

Kiwis had Successful Campaign in 99

After this success New Zealand took up another unusual step, they named Lee Germon the captain of New Zealand national team and provided him with a bunch of uncapped talents. Lee Germon himself uncapped could not quite live upto the expectations of the selectors. As is said some risks don’t come off. They failed in the 1996 World Cup. Stephen Fleming was named the captain of the Kiwi team. He restored pride in the team. Players such as Dion Nash, Roger Twose, Craig McMillan and Chris Cairns came up and made it count. While Chris Cairns was at his destructive best in the end over, Nathan Astle gave solid opening to the Kiwis. Geoff Allot with his potent Yorkers ably guided by Dion Nash produced results on the bowling front. After an inspiring display they made it into the semi-finals but their progress was again halted by the Pakistan team. They had to settle for semi-final losers spot over again. 

Stephen Fleming in Action in 2007 World Cup

They had a bad time of it in 2003 World Cup crashing out of the super six stages. In the 2007 edition they went onto reach the semi-finals again and met the same fate. They were defeated by Sri Lanka. Though the team looked lacklustre in the 2011 World Cup but they reached the semi-finals all the same. 

New Bunch will have to Gel Together

In the aftermath of the World Cup Daniel Vettori stepped down as the captain of the national team. He has also decided to play least cricket in national colours. He is one of the leading left arm spinners of all time and his absence will be felt dearly. Though some fresh faces have come in such as southpaw Tim Southee and batsman Kane Williamson, but they are still to be tested many a times. Many New Zealand cricket fans felt that Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder have the makings of great batsmen but they have been very inconsistent and failed in the crunch situations. Though Vettori had been a capable leader in the last few years but he got least support from a team still growing up. Hope that Ross Taylor, recently appointed the captain of the New Zealand team and the experienced coach in John Wright can make this team blossom and then become a team of world beaters over again.