On going ICC World Test Championship (WTC) It has been a mixed bag for the period New Zealandshowing both remarkable achievements and disappointing failures. While the Black Caps showed promise, they failed to emerge as a formidable force against their opponents. They are currently ranked 4th in the WTC table with an even record of 7 wins and 7 losses, ahead of India.
Memorable moments for New Zealand during the current WTC era
Despite the inconsistencies, New Zealand produced some memorable moments in red ball cricket during this period. The historic win in India saw them pull off a rare feat, giving India their first series whitewash on home soil since 2000. In addition, the Blackcaps took a 2-0 series win against the table-toppers. South Africa emphasizes their potential in their country and in the international arena.
But their campaign was marred by significant disappointments. Last series loss England revealed their weaknesses and dealt a big blow to their future prospects. At the start of the period, New Zealand had a crushing series whitewash Australia and Sri Lanka, further highlighting their struggle to maintain consistency in the longest format of the game.
Among a number of standout Test wins for New Zealand in the current WTC era, here are 5 Kiwi players who have wowed fans and pundits with the ball.
Also read: Twitter reactions: Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman lead New Zealand to 2-0 series lead over Sri Lanka in ODIs.
Top 5 wicket takers for New Zealand in the current WTC era
- Matt Henry: The Blackcaps pace sensation
Henry has emerged as the leader of New Zealand’s pace attack in the current WTC era. The 33-year-old has scored a total of 48 goals in 18 innings during the current WTC cycle. This makes him the leading wicket-taker for New Zealand in the 2023-25 WTC cycle. Henry’s most memorable bowling figure was a career-best figure of 7/67, which the pacer achieved against Australia in Christchurch. With a few more years of competitive level cricket, Henry is expected to perform better for the Blackcaps in Test cricket in the near future.
- Ajaz Patel: The wizard of spin
The left-arm spinner was the find of the current WTC cycle for New Zealand, scoring just 37 wickets for New Zealand. Patel was the main difference maker in New Zealand’s series triumph in India where he scored just 15 wickets in 3 Test matches. The 36-year-old’s closed-mindedness proved detrimental, especially on slow tracks suited to sub-continental conditions.
- Will O’Rourke: The future of the New Zealand pace attack
The youngster has been a constant support for Henry at the other end of the ground attack for New Zealand, managing to score just 36 goals in 18 shots for the Blackcaps. The 23-year-old has emerged as a key bone of contention for batsmen in Test cricket with his pace and bounce and has been a consistent performer for New Zealand in the longest format of the game.
- Mitchell Santner: A multi-talented star
An experienced all-rounder is of great importance in Test cricket. Especially in bowling, an ideal all-rounder can be a handy alternative for the team and provide some much-needed rest to the traditional bowlers between long spells. On the New Zealand side, Santner did just that, emerging as a crucial slower alternative for the Blackcaps. The 32-year-old has taken 33 wickets for his team in the current WTC era and cemented his place as the ideal all-rounder in red ball cricket.
- Glenn Phillips: A smooth transition to a new role on the team
Phillips is known in the cricket community for his hard hitting skills with the bat. However, in the current WTC era, Phillips has transitioned into a more temperamental all-rounder who can not only bat but can also take crucial wickets and disrupt crucial opposition partnerships. With 31 wickets in the current WTC era, Phillips has switched to Test cricket for the Blackcaps and is expected to be a more regular starter in the next cycle.
