mastimasti
Tape Ball Captain
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2021
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World tournaments can often lead to one of two options for the winners - the culmination of a long and hard journey, where the ageing champions depart one-by-one or the start of a new legacy.
The latter was the case for Australia as they beat the West Indies in 1995 and then lifted the World Cup in 1999. For Germany, winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup was the culmination of their great generation and since have witnessed a steady decline in their international fortunes.
What will it be for New Zealand? The average age of the squad which was selected for the WTC Final was 31. This is not bad but it isn't exactly the spring of youth. BJ Watling has retired, Ross Taylor is 37 and may well go too, Wagner and DeGrandhomme are 35 and 34 respectively, for the former in particular, that is the age of decline for pace bowlers. If all were to retire in the span of the next 12-18 months, that would be the heart of New Zealand cricket ripped out.
Boult is still young at 31 with 3 or 4 seasons at least left in him, the same may be said for Southee but he has a lot more miles on the clock. These guys are also all format players, further straining their capacity to perform.
Yet the next WTC cycle is due to start August of this year and will end in 2023. The dates are subject to change and likely will, so it is difficult to imagine DeGrandhomme, Wagner, Taylor and prime versions of Boult and Southee trudging out for the final in two or three years time.
Where is the youth in bowling? There is the exceptional Jamieson and the decent Henry, both on the right side of 30 but what of the youth game? Does the domestic system have the resources to produce 2 or 3 more?
What of the batting? Williamson is an exceptional athlete and has at least half a decade in him still, Conway and Latham are 29 and have plenty in the gas tank, however their quality will be greatly tested yet again. Blundell looks a decent replacement for Watling, but he barely has any international experience under his belt. What of Nicholls? 29 and in his prime but barely averaging 42 in tests.
New Zealand started their build towards becoming a truly top side under the maverick leadership of McCullum, just watch the most recent piece on Sky. The methods changed but the aim remained the same under Williamson, New Zealand's long and hard journey has come to an end. The legacy is the last decade, going forward they will not be the same ever again.
The latter was the case for Australia as they beat the West Indies in 1995 and then lifted the World Cup in 1999. For Germany, winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup was the culmination of their great generation and since have witnessed a steady decline in their international fortunes.
What will it be for New Zealand? The average age of the squad which was selected for the WTC Final was 31. This is not bad but it isn't exactly the spring of youth. BJ Watling has retired, Ross Taylor is 37 and may well go too, Wagner and DeGrandhomme are 35 and 34 respectively, for the former in particular, that is the age of decline for pace bowlers. If all were to retire in the span of the next 12-18 months, that would be the heart of New Zealand cricket ripped out.
Boult is still young at 31 with 3 or 4 seasons at least left in him, the same may be said for Southee but he has a lot more miles on the clock. These guys are also all format players, further straining their capacity to perform.
Yet the next WTC cycle is due to start August of this year and will end in 2023. The dates are subject to change and likely will, so it is difficult to imagine DeGrandhomme, Wagner, Taylor and prime versions of Boult and Southee trudging out for the final in two or three years time.
Where is the youth in bowling? There is the exceptional Jamieson and the decent Henry, both on the right side of 30 but what of the youth game? Does the domestic system have the resources to produce 2 or 3 more?
What of the batting? Williamson is an exceptional athlete and has at least half a decade in him still, Conway and Latham are 29 and have plenty in the gas tank, however their quality will be greatly tested yet again. Blundell looks a decent replacement for Watling, but he barely has any international experience under his belt. What of Nicholls? 29 and in his prime but barely averaging 42 in tests.
New Zealand started their build towards becoming a truly top side under the maverick leadership of McCullum, just watch the most recent piece on Sky. The methods changed but the aim remained the same under Williamson, New Zealand's long and hard journey has come to an end. The legacy is the last decade, going forward they will not be the same ever again.
