http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 – 1st T20 – Match Preview
After a lay-off of over six months, New Zealand will be looking to make a swift return to International cricket when they play Zimbabwe in the first T20 match, which will be played at the Harare Sports Club today, October 15, 2011.
Much has changed since the Kiwi’s exit from the World Cup 2011. They have installed a new captain in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LRPL-Taylor-c1849 while there are some key personnel changes in the back-room staff and a over-hauling of the selection system.
Now they embark on a tough but more notably a decisive tour of Zimbabwe, hoping to start fresh and get up and running for some key assignments in the latter part of the year. The T20 cricket is just the beginning as the main aim for the side is to achieve success in the longer format of the game, in which they have underperformed considerably.
The captaincy of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 will be on show and he will be hoping to justify his new role. His batting ability is hardly doubted as he remains an integral part of the side; however it is his leadership qualities that will need to be top notch, if the Kiwis are to make a greater push.
The team is not short of power hitter with the lineup including the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JEC-Franklin-c1684 providing the added momentum in the lower order.
The key player in this format remains their skipper, who has the natural ability of clearing the park easily. Also Franklin is someone to bank on given his recent success in the Champions LeagueT20 for the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 Indians. He started his career as an out an out pacer, but since then the left-hander has added a all-round ability to his game and is more suited to the high intensity of the shorter version of the game.
The hosts will be looking to put on a good show after the rollicking they suffered at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747) and proved that the side is hungry to achieve success.
With the team adding stability in terms of composition, they now need to get the results, which will help them in their endeavours in becoming a force to reckon with. With a stable line up, the Rhodesian will now need to quickly adapt to different formats of the game.
To their defence, T20 is not the format where the team will be looking to attain supremacy, none the less, a win under any circumstances will be a blessing for them.
Although it is difficult to point out one key member from the side and it is fair to say that all will need to perform as a collective unit to overpower a strong Kiwi contingent. The bowlers against the Men In Green were lacklustre and will have to step up and back their batters.
The conditions strangely will on a cooler side, however, the pitch will assist both the bowling and batting departments and with the two sides out of match practice (especially the Kiwis), the T20 will give them a fair idea of what to expect in the remainder of the games.
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