4 takeaways from New Zealand-Bangladesh ODI Series

New Zealand recorded a thumping victory over Bangladesh in the 3-match ODI series
New Zealand recorded a thumping victory over Bangladesh in the 3-match ODI series

After a disastrous series against India that resulted in a surprising 1-4 defeat, the New Zealanders re-established their credentials, somewhat, as a very capable ODI team by beating visitors Bangladesh 3-0.

Obviously, this win doesn’t establish the Black Caps as a top team in this format, however, it is still quite significant. By whitewashing their opponents, that too with ease, the home side showed that they are not in any kind of decline. They remain a highly competent side at home and are likely to beat most teams there.

While this wasn’t a very high-profile series and there wasn’t much for the home team to gain, nor for the visitors to lose, some important developments did take place. With the World Cup fast approaching, every match now has relevance and the shape of teams for the big event is starting to assume its final shape.

Let’s look at the big takeaways from this series and see what they portend for the future.

Guptill Is Back In Form

Martin Guptill's return to form is crucial for New Zealand's World Cup plans
Martin Guptill's return to form is crucial for New Zealand's World Cup plans

His poor run of form in the India series had made Martin Guptill the center of attention in the New Zealand line-up. By roaring back into nick with back-to-back hundreds against Bangladesh, Guptill has shown that he is still a big force in limited-overs cricket.

Of course, the attack he faced wasn’t very dangerous, certainly quite manageable compared to India. Still, to score two brilliant hundreds in chases and play those very strokes which signified his great ability is a big achievement.

The right-hander is clearly back in form and everything seems to be working well in his technique and shot-making. This is highly crucial for the Kiwis as they need Guptill to fire frequently to do well in the World Cup. By scoring big in this series, he has reassured the concerned fans of New Zealand that his power and talent hasn’t diminished.

Nicholls Cemented His Opening Spot

Henry Nicholls seems to have booked his spot as an opener at the expense of Colin Munro
Henry Nicholls seems to have booked his spot as an opener at the expense of Colin Munro

Apart from Guptill, another person who suffered a tough ordeal against India was Colin Munro. The dashing opener couldn’t get a decent score in the entire series and was on the edge of being dropped.

Luckily for him, the decision to rest Kane Williamson for the final match of the series gave him another opportunity. But he failed to capitalize on that. Meanwhile, Henry Nicholls, who took his position at the top of the order in the first two games of the series, continued to impress and played beautifully in the series.

With these developments, it is clear that the opening combination that the Black Caps would opt for would be Guptill and Nicholls. Munro is likely to face the axe or at least be relegated to the reserves.

While Nicholls may not be as much of a firebrand with the bat like Munro, his better technique and more tempered style make him a more reliable option. Along with Guptill, he has the potential to make a very successful opening pair for New Zealand.

Boult and Southee Showed Their Class

Trent Boult and Tim Southee once again led the way in the bowling department
Trent Boult and Tim Southee once again led the way in the bowling department

Cricket fans are well aware of the brilliance possessed by the opening pair of Trent Boult and Tim Southee. In swinging conditions, these two are as good as anyone else and have repeatedly shown their majestic skill of swinging the ball.

This series was another example of it. While Boult was as always on the mark and troubled the Bangladeshi batsmen, Southee, with a 6-wicket haul in the final ODI, proved that he is not far behind.

While Boult has added pace over the years in his bowling and possesses some good tricks apart from swinging the ball, Southee uses his height to a great effect. Their efforts in this series augur well for the future, as the conditions in New Zealand can be similar to England where the World Cup is going to be played.

It must be remembered that New Zealand’s success in the last World Cup was in large part due to the efforts of these two stalwarts. The conditions in England may be a little more batting-friendly, but one expects these two – with their experience and skills – to overcome them and make an impact. This series suggests they might as well do so.

Bangladesh Sorely Missed Shakib

Shakib al-Hasan's absence hurt Bangladesh severly in this series
Shakib al-Hasan's absence hurt Bangladesh severly in this series

There is no doubting that Shakib al-Hasan is one of the best all-rounders in the world of cricket. His value to Bangladesh was revealed once again in this series. Both the batting and bowling from the visitors seemed highly under-par in his absence.

In all the matches of this series, the Bangladeshi top and middle-order failed. If Shakib was there, he may well have steadied the ship when the going got tough against the New Zealand pacers. Furthermore, he could also have given the control with his left-arm spin which Bangladesh missed in all the games.

Of course, nothing is certain in cricket and there is no guarantee that Shakib would have turned things around. But the team’s complete capitulation shows how vital a member he is for this team. If Bangladesh somehow manage to win the World Cup, he would have to play the leading role.

Like a true all-rounder, he is equally impactful in both the batting and bowling halves of the game. And his experience is just another major asset that Bangladesh needs badly.

Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download Cric Rocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more!

Quick Links

Edited by Hassan Shafiq