Aakash Chopra believes New Zealand’s batting department lacks potency, something they will not be able to alter even if they wanted to.
This evening in Abu Dhabi, New Zealand will play England in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2021. As the second-placed team in Group 2 of the Super 12 stage, Kane Williamson’s squad advanced to the final four.
“Do I see a scope of change in the New Zealand XI – No, they go with a set team. But in that, there is a genuine issue which I think they can’t address. They will try to but they can’t.” He said
“Martin Guptill generally plays well on good pitches, but there has been only one inning in this entire tournament where he batted very well. But it was the Dubai ground and an associate nation in front. He can get slightly stuck here if the pitch is even little slow. He tried to play a slog against Rashid Khan and the ball hit his stumps.” he said
In the five innings he has played in the tournament, Guptill has scored 176 runs at a 35.20 average. 93 of these runs were scored in a single over against Scotland. Aakash Chopra
“Daryl Mitchell played well against India, you might find one-odd more interesting innings but it is not the same quality. Devon Conway – very good player but again not a T20 rockstar.” He observed
New Zealand’s lack of depth and firepower in the batting department, according to the 44-year-old, is a source of concern.
Kane Williamson
“You have got Kane Williamson but he is not a great T20 player. After him comes Glenn Phillips, he also played one good knock, in my opinion he has not delivered to his name. Then you get into Jimmy Neesham and a longish tail. The New Zealand team has very little firepower.” Chopra explained
In their last four matches, New Zealand has used five specialist bowlers, as well as James Neesham as a batting all-rounder. They’re most likely to continue with the same lineup, putting the onus on their top order to deliver.
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