Ross Taylor will lead a side that has traditionally done well in
multi-team tournaments, where they gel as a unit to reduce the gap
between them and more talented or experienced sides. But this hasn't
been a very positive year for New Zealand. They did start the 2011-12
season with home and away wins over Zimbabwe on either side of a drawn
Test series in Australia - which included that win in Hobart
- but it has been downhill ever since, losing at home to South Africa
and away to West Indies in all three formats. There was a spark of hope
coming into this tournament, as they recovered from a Test-series loss
in India to take the rain-hit Twenty20 series 1-0 with a win in Chennai.
Subsequently, in a way, this is a great stage for New Zealand - they
get a global tournament in which to impress and make up for a poor year.
The main issue for them is fitness: Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee and Rob
Nicol went to Kandy a day later than the rest of the team, too sick to
travel on the stipulated day. The trio suffered gastro problems in
Colombo, but have since recovered and are likely to be fit for
selection. Also, Kyle Mills, who was recovering from his collision with
Brendon McCullum during the India T20, had a bout of laryngitis. He too
is expected to be fit.
Still, whether they are tested would entirely depend on how much fight
Bangladesh can provide. Bangladesh, as opposed to New Zealand, come into
this competition confident and well-prepared: after their rousing Asia Cup performance, they have devoted the Bangladesh off-season to exclusively playing Twenty20s.
The recent history between the two sides, the talent within them and
their strong reasons for needing to reach the Super Eights could produce
a tremendous encounter.
Form guide
Bangladesh LWLWW (completed matches, most recent first)New Zealand WLLLL
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