Cricket Talk

So I expect the teams to use the tournament to figure out their backup combinations. Hence I believe these are the teams they should go for in batting orders.

V Sehwag

KD Karthik

V Kohli

Yuvraj Singh

MS Dhoni

SK Raina

RA Jadeja

R Ashwin

A Mithun

P Kumar

A Nehra

This would be a very deep batting lineup where newcomers Mithun and Ashwin should get a chance to play with the seniors. Since Yuvraj and Jadeja both are decent at slow left-arm orthodox, Ojha sitting out makes sense so that there is more bowling variety. Karthik would get in only because there is no one else to open. Kohli is a slightly better batsman than Rohit Sharma and there are enough Right-arm offies in this team anyway. It would be great if Rohit Sharma learns to be an opener.

MJ Guptill

BJ Watling

LRPL Taylor

GD Elliott

JDP Oram

SB Styris

GJ Hopkins

Any 1 out of

 KS Williamson

  JS Patel

 NL McCullum

DR Tuffey

AJ McKay

 KD Mills
   or

 TG Southee

Hopkins gets in as mandatory keeper. This is a very fungible squad, even for perennial Dark-horse New Zealand. There is no variety in New Zealand bowling. Kyle Mills ,Southee and Daryl Tuffey have formed the core of the Kiwi pace attack ever since the retirement of Shane Bond. Apart from Styris the run choking bowler and McKay bowling left arm, there is only right arm pace or right arm off. All except one can bowl and all can bat in the 15 though only a precious few can do either well. All these bits and pieces players need to chip in. Nathan McCullum and McKay; though they seem old, have played in less than 5 matches (only 6 of the current 15 are under 30). New Zealand selectors should have got more youngsters into the squad and give them chance in the tournament. It is not as if there were many great players that they needed to displace.