[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Squad: Kane Williamson ©, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.

There's an old Simpsons gag that has Lisa, repeatedly bested by her new rival, imagining herself onstage with the Second Best Band In America - consisting of Art Garfunkel, Jim Messina and John Oates - playing their #2 hit, Born To Be Runner-Up. One suspects that similar visions may have plagued Kane Williamson in the last four years, after his New Zealand side lost their second final on the trot (on a technicality, if we're honest), adding that failure to the six occasions the Kiwis have been losing semi-finalists.

So, is this their year at last? Well, if so then they're certainly lulling the rest of the world into a false sense of security. Eight wins from twenty ODIs in 2023, including a 3-0 defeat on Indian soil, does not resemble the record of champions-elect. But much of the year has been hampered by injury crises, and even Williamson himself - victim of an ACL problem in the spring that sidelined him for months - was a doubt for this tournament. They've successfully coaxed all-time great Trent Boult back into the fold to send down thunderbolts at the top and tail of the innings alongside fellow pacers Tim Southee, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson, and the frontline spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner have been in enormous demand by franchises around the world, emphasising just what a job they can do with the white ball. Wickets, therefore, are unlikely to be a problem. But what about runs? Like Boult, Martin Guptill was dropped from his central contract last year after a poor run of form, but unlike Boult he hasn't been invited back. Fellow 2019 opener Henry Nicholls failed to make the cut after a low-scoring year, while promising youngster Finn Allen has been passed over entirely; the mercurial partnership of Devon Conway and Will Young are therefore liable to open the batting, both of them additions since the last tournament. What Williamson can achieve at number three is well known, and the middle-order power of Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham will take some sides apart. If they're consistent. And if they stay fit. If, if, if.

After the chance for revenge against England in Ahmedabad on opening day, a fairly friendly schedule allows them to build momentum versus Netherlands, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before taking on the heavyweights; look out for fireworks when they take on South Africa at batting-friendly Pune. Williamson is 165 away from replacing Stephen Fleming as his nation's greatest World Cup run-scorer, while Trent Boult will almost certainly extend his own lead at the top of the wicket charts after becoming New Zealand's GOAT in 2019. But individual achievements aren't what the Blackcaps are in town for. The golden generation have been foiled twice, and the bell's ringing at the last chance saloon; if it's going to happen at all for New Zealand, it has to be now.

Highest World Cup total: 393-6 vs West Indies (Nelson, 2015)
Lowest World Cup total: 112 vs Australia (Port Elizabeth, 2003)
Highest World Cup innings: 237*, Martin Guptill vs West Indies (Wellington, 2015)
Best World Cup bowling figures: 7-33, Tim Southee vs England (Wellington, 2015)
Leading World Cup run-scorer: Stephen Fleming, 1,075 runs
Leading World Cup wicket-taker: Trent Boult, 39 wickets


Tournament Schedule: England, Netherlands, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, India, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka