One of key factors in New Zealand’s rise as a top-ranked team is TIM SOUTHEE. The right-arm swing bowler, who burst upon the international scene in great style when he was still only 19, made a sensational Test debut against England in Napier by taking 5-55 before bludgeoning 77 off 40 balls in the second innings with nine sixes.

On the docile tracks of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh during the 2011 World Cup Southee captured 18 wickets at 17.33 to prove his credential as equally a dangerous bowler in ODIs.

Earlier in the year 2008, he was the second highest wicket-taker at the Under-19 World Cup and won the Player-of-the-Tournament award for his 17 wickets as New Zealand reached the semi-finals.

IF there is one England batsman the opponents fear, he is JOE ROOT, who is touted as the future captain. From an early age, Root has exuded promise of a quality cricketer. Adaptability is the hallmark of his batting and has drawn comparisons with two of Yorkshire’s finest batsmen.

Root’s patience and stubbornness at the crease had Geoffrey Boycott gushing that he reminded him of himself. Others see some of Michael Vaughan in Root’s front-foot drive. His presence at the crease gives England the hope of a decent total.

After scoring just five against Australia in the opening Pool ‘A’ World Cup game at the MCG in the 3600th One-day International, Root will be aiming high for the remaining fixtures.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“In the caldron of the international arena, to get that balance right doesn’t always happen clearly. But I think the mentality for England to get up to speed with 50-over cricket and the modern way of batting in this format,” —batting coach Mark Ramprakash on England’s lack of changing their style of play.

STAT OF THE DAY

8 — number of times a batsman has been out hit wicket in World Cups. Regis Chakabva was the latest such instance, making openers feature four times in the list. Kenya’s Maurice Odumbe is the only batsman to be dismissed hit wicket on two occasions in World Cups and both times against the West Indies (Pune 1996 and Kimberley 2003).

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2015

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