Exuberance or Experience?
New Zealand face a difficult conundrum as their young side was steamrolled by England in the Test series but an experienced squad has been enjoying consistent success in the one-day arena
16-Jun-2013
Andrew Alderson examines a compelling dilemma facing New Zealand cricket in the New Zealand Herald. Investment in youngsters backfired in the Test series against England but fielding a seasoned squad in the Champions Trophy has given them a fighting chance at making yet another semi-final.
Yet the experience in the ODI squad appears to have indirectly shaped the ODI series victories away against South Africa and England. Success in the Champions Trophy is also a possibility. Players like Mills, Elliott and the McCullum brothers have more often played cameo roles securing key victories compared to the star performances of Kane Williamson, Mitchell McClenaghan, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill. With most of the Kiwi 30-somethings balancing sporting careers, young families and mortgages, they offer life experience and mature grounding to a team.