Black Caps Have Stepped Up From Being Noteworthy Challengers To Dominant Powerhouse In ODI Cricket

In the decade gone by (2010-2019) , New Zealand came out of the shadows of their much fancied Trans-tasman rivals Australia and became a formidable unit in ODI cricket winning more consistently both at home and away

New Zealand cricket came into the 2010s as being one of the fiercest competitors in one day international cricket but not a dominant powerhouse of noteworthy recognition.

All through the 2000s, the Kiwis were considered a unit which competed hard but always played second fiddle to the mighty Australians, ever-consistent South Africans and the sub continent powerhouse Indian who ruled the roost in the one day format.

With ODI stalwarts like Nathan Astle, Stephen Fleming, Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Scott Styris, Shane Bond, Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram and Kyle Mills who formed the nucleus of the 'Black Caps'  team in the 2000s either retiring from the game or approaching the end of their international careers, a new brigade of talented youngsters promising to take the team to loftier heights emerged as the new decade unfolded.

In the decade gone by (2010-2019) , New Zealand came out of the shadows of their much fancied Trans-tasman rivals Australia and became a formidable unit in ODI cricket winning more consistently both at home and away courtesy a group of talented cricketers who gelled well under the leadership of Brendon McCulum and Kane Williamson .

The Island nation broke their long standing semi final jinx at the ICC World Cup and made it to two consecutive finals in the 2015 and 2017 edition of the showpiece event.

New Zealand had some of the most attacking and entertaining strokemakers in their power-packed batting armoury, who were considered among the best with the willow. They had belligerent openers in Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill and Colin Munro who flayed attacks with sheer disdain providing the firepower up the order.

The middle order was compact and well settled with superbly gifted  stroke-makers of world class pedigree. Leading the charge was their ever dependable batting mainstay  Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor who were superlatively consistent in anchoring their all through the decade.

Tom Latham, Henry Nicolls and Grant Elliot were good batsmen in their own merit who chipped in with handy contributions with the bat in lower middle order.  They were fortunate to have wicket-keepers in Luke Ronchi and Tom Latham who contributed with the willow and lent depth to their batting.

The Kiwis had plenty of firepower down the order with some explosive power hitters in Colin de Grandhomme, Jimmy Neesham, Corey  Anderson and Mitchell Santner who produced some whirlwind cameos to win them nerve wrecking encounters.

New Zealand's bowling armoury has always been heavily seam oriented,  conducive to their seam friendly decks and the same trend followed all through the 2000s. The Kiwis boasted of a pace armoury which had some of the finest exponents of seam and swing.

Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Kyle Mills were their frontline seamers and strike weapons with the new ball for the entire decade. The Black Caps also had tearaway speedsters in Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson who complimented the seam bowlers with  their menacing speed. The likes of Hamish Benett, Mitchell  McClenaghan  and Adam Milne were among the wickets whenever called upon national duty.

The Kiwis always had medium pacers to back up their quickies and the likes of Colin De Grandhomme, Jimmy Neesham, Corey Anderson and James Franklin were quite effective in seaming around the ball in pace friendly conditions. In a seam heavy bowling attack, Kiwis had their own spinners who were quite effective in playing the run chokers role to perfection. While Daniel Vettori was undoubtedly their best spinner in the first half of the decade, Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner were their reliable spin twins in the second half. Nathan McCullum was pretty handy with his off spin in white ball cricket.

New Zealand's Best Probable ODI Eleven From 2010-2019 Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Mitchel Santner, Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee,  Kyle Mills and Trent Boult

12th Man -  Colin de Grandhomme

Reserves - Grant Eilliot, Colin Munro, Nathan McCullum and Lockie Ferguson

Notable Mentions - Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Ish Sodhi