New zealand National Team Biography
New Zealand National Team Biography: Despite being some of the best rugby players in the world, New Zealand had struggled as they were often times unable to produce quality cricket. However, they had their first taste of victory after 20 years on a test match when they beat the West Indies at Auckland in 1955-56.
The Black Caps have become one of the most iconic names in domestic cricket history, blessed with talent from some of the era’s brightest stars. None was greater than Richard Hadlee, a giant of New Zealand cricket if there ever was one.
New Zealand have also produced two captains with exceptional tactical acumen, Martin Crowe and Stephen Fleming. Crowe innovated in the 1992 World Cup by opening the innings with a pinch-hitter and handing the ball to a spinner in the first over.
New Zealand’s cricket team has made a name for itself in international competition. They have six semi-final appearances, and have not been eliminated from the world cup since 1992. Despite their lack of success, they seem to be on the road back.
Matt Henry:
Matt Henry is yet another New Zealand bowler known for his speed and bounce. While not quite in the league of Tim Southee and Trent Boult, he is a reliable third seamer in ODIs.
But once New Zealand ace paceman Adam Milne picked up an injury midway through the tournament, Henry was left out of the New Zealand squad. However, he was able to return to action after Adam Milne got hurt and pick up one wicket in each their Finals match against Australia.
Henry’s growing reputation was enhanced in that Test debut at Lord’s, where he took the best figures by a New Zealand bowler on debut (4 for 93 including wickets of Alastair Cook, Joe Root, and Ian Bell) and demonstrated another aspect of his game when he scored a few useful runs at the end of the innings. He often looked a confident hard-hitting batsman, hitting three sixes off Stuart Broad in his second Test.
Jimmy Neesham
Jimmy Neesham is one of the most entertaining cricketers on social media. As a right-handed batsman, he plays for New Zealand in formats like Test, ODI & T20. Neesham made his international debut against India in a Test match at Wellington back in 2016. He scored 137* at no8 and remains as the highest score ever by an international debutant batting that position.
And this is why Brendon McCullum’s 83 and 112 for 196 at Sabina Park in April against New Zealand became a turning point. He scored three centuries in four Tests after that. But in May, he scored 78 and 57, before going on to score 448 runs across 5 Tests at an average of 116 — with a couple of enormous centuries in November when it mattered most.
Neesham is a general all-rounder in the New Zealand team, with his strongest asset being his solidity in the lower-order. Injury has been a frequent problem for him throughout his career and it was a big disappointment when Neesham missed the 2015 World Cup. He never gave up hope and supported his team over social media during their tour of India in 2016-17 even though he was kept sidelined by an injury.
Jesse Ryder
Ryder has made a name of himself as one of New Zealand’s most aggressive players, who terrorized bowling attacks with his infamous belligerence. But prior to becoming a cricketer, Ryder was not known as a standout athlete.
Ryder was a superstar from the days of cricket when it seemed that the game was all about fun. Ryder pulls fast, flicks and drives easily, but is most dangerous when he’s at his best and can pound any bowling attack. However, even with his body bang-in-the-shed appearance, Ryder is surprisingly athletic on the field, especially when dealing with balls that dodge from gully.
Alcoholism and drug addiction have kept Aiden away from the sport of cricket for a long time. Aiden’s only appeared in a handful of international matches despite debuting in 2008. His career gained momentum towards the end of 2014 when he was suspended after an assault outside a bar in Christchurch New Zealand, followed by yet another ban because of poor behaviour seen by his club, Essex.
Despite shattering the glass ceiling of a place made for boys, Ryder continues to create an elegant and slow-moving spectacle that has many delighted with his approach. Ryder is one of the only stars in recent history who continues to light up the ground without needing to score at three or four runs an over. This is because he just isn’t that type of player.
Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson has established himself as one of the top batsmen in New Zealand’s cricket team through his silky batting style and his ability to play across formats.
At the end of the year, Williamson smashed 108 in an ODI game against Bangladesh. He did so in a losing cause, but showed glimpses of what was to come. Handed a Test cap against India at Ahmedabad, he produced an inhuman performance with 131. His efforts were enough to halt the home side’s dominance.
Williamson scored a match-saving ton against South Africa in 2012, then another ton in Sri Lanka to help them record a victory. In 2012 -13, he recorded his highest ODI score in New Zealand and India. When Jamaica came to New Zealand in 2014, he hit five consecutive fifties and smashed a ton at Kingston Isthmus. With his recent consistency and potential, Williamson could well be the next great New Zealand cricketer.
BJ Watling
When he took his test debut in 2009 against New Zealand, BJ showed that he had potential for the future. In 2021, BJ played his last test innings against India at Southampton and closed out his international career with a T20 against Pakistan at Dubai.
Nathan McCullum
Nathan McCullum is a fast bowler who can be explosive. He debuted for Otago in 1999-2000, but took some time to reach the big stage. His long-awaited debut came in 2007 World T20 and his career did not take off.
A specialist in the limited-over formats, Nathan played a key role in leading Lancashire on to the semi-finals of World Cup 2011. Though his brother (and captain) Brendon has generally overshadowed him, because he made it into the squad late, Nathan only continues to get better as he gets older. He has become more consistent with every game that he plays.
Tim Southee
Tim Southee is a skilled cricketer with a powerful leg and keen eye for swing bowling. He is also known for his ability to fire yorkers and is an effective T20 bowler, as well as a powerful rugby player. In 2008, he was the Man of the Tournament in the Under-19 World Cup, helped New Zealand reach the semifinals and allegedly has been part of New Zealand’s limited-overs squads since 2009.
Southee took 6 wickets on debut with a 77. As of 22, Southee was among the best pace options for New Zealand. In 2011 he became the second New Zealander to take a hat-trick in T20Is. He had one of the best spells in international cricket with 7 for 64 at Bangalore, India. He was the best bowler at the World Cup and did well in India and Sri Lanka. His spell in 2013 against India became his career highlight as he became the first overseas bowler to take 10 wickets at Lord’s since Makhaya Ntini, and also first New Zealander to do so since Dion Nash
| Name | Age | Batting style | Bowling style | Forms |
| Captain and All-rounder | ||||
| Sophie Devine | 1 September 1989 | Right-handed | Right arm medium | ODI, T20I |
| Batters | ||||
| Amy Satterthwaite | 7 October 1986 | Left-handed | Right arm off spin | ODI, T20I |
| Maddy Green | 20 October 1992 | Right-handed | Right arm off spin | ODI, T20I |
| Brooke Halliday | 30 October 1995 | Left-handed | Right arm medium | ODI, T20I |
| Lauren Down | 7 May 1995 | Right-handed | Right arm medium | ODI, T20I |
| Suzie Bates | 16 September 1987 | Right-handed | Right arm medium | ODI, T20I |
| Natalie Dodd | 22 November 1992 | Right-handed | Right arm off spin | ODI |
| Katie Perkins | 7 July 1988 | Right-handed | Right arm medium | ODI, T20I |
| All-rounders | ||||
| Amelia Kerr | 13 October 2000 | Right-handed | Right arm leg spin | ODI, T20I |
| Frances Mackay | 1 June 1990 | Right-handed | Right arm off spin | ODI, T20I |
| Wicket-keepers | ||||
| Katey Martin | 7 February 1985 | Right-handed | ODI, T20I | |
| Spin Bowlers | ||||
| Leigh Kasperek | 15 February 1992 | Right-handed | Right arm off spin | ODI, T20I |
| Fran Jonas | 8 April 2004 | Right-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | ODI |
| Pace Bowlers | ||||
| Hayley Jensen | 7 October 1992 | Right-handed | Right arm medium | ODI, T20I |
| Hannah Rowe | 3 October 1996 | Right-handed | Right arm medium | ODI, T20I |
| Jess Kerr | 18 January 1998 | Right-handed | Right arm medium | ODI, T20I |
| Lea Tahuhu | 23 September 1990 | Right-handed | Right arm medium-fast | ODI, T20I |
| Rosemary Mair | 7 November 1998 | Right-handed | Right arm medium | ODI, T20I |
| Thamsyn Newton | 3 June 1995 | Right-handed | Right arm medium | T20I |
| Holly Huddleston | 11 October 1987 | Right-handed | Right arm medium-fast | ODI, T20I |
| Molly Penfold | 15 June 2001 | Right-handed | Right arm medium-fast | ODI |
| Kate Ebrahim | 11 November 1991 | Right-handed | Right arm medium | T20I |