New Zealand’s T20 World Cup campaign has gotten off to a slightly bumpy start, admits all-rounder Mitchell Santner. Logistical challenges due to players’ IPL commitments forced the team to forgo official warm-up matches and arrive in the Caribbean in three separate batches.
New Zealand facing unknown
“It’s been a chaotic kind of start,” Santner said. Despite a disrupted training schedule in Trinidad, the team is now in Guyana, their base for the opening group match against Afghanistan on June 8th. “We are here now in Guyana, a good week or so to get some prep done for our first game,” he added, emphasizing the importance of settling in quickly.
Adaptability is key: Mitchell Santner
With the World Cup spread across nine unfamiliar venues, New Zealand will face a variety of playing conditions. “It’s obviously good to watch the first few games,” Santner said, highlighting the need to adapt quickly. “Traditionally, Guyana can be a little bit slow and Trinidad can be pretty good. America is going to be different.”
Relying on Experience
While they have a good understanding of teams like West Indies, Santner acknowledges a lack of knowledge about opponents like Papua New Guinea and Uganda. “There is a little bit of an unknown with some of these teams,” he admitted. The team will rely heavily on scouting and video analysis to prepare for each opponent.
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Experienced players offer local knowledge
Fortunately, New Zealand boasts players like Kane Williamson, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, and Ish Sodhi who have experience playing in the Caribbean Premier League. “We have guys who played a lot… channelling that kind of information is going to be big to hit the ground running,” Santner said.
Despite the initial hiccups, New Zealand remains focused on adapting quickly and utilizing their experienced players to overcome the challenges of the tournament. Can the Black Caps overcome their chaotic preparation and emerge victorious in their opening match? Only time will tell.
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