ICC T20 World Cup 2016: Kane Williamson wants New Zealand to play smart, fearless cricket
The super 10 stage is over and now it’s time for the semi-finals to commence in the ICC T20 World Cup 2016. England will square off against New Zealand in the 1st semi-final at the Feroze Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi tonight. It will be an exciting battle for sure as both teams have the potential to outclass each other on any given day.
New Zealand have been a revelation in this tournament with their smart and innovative tactics in the four matches they have played. The team management has picked players according to the conditions of the tracks on which they have played and their newly appointed skipper Kane Williamson should also be credited for that.
Play fearless and smart cricket
The Kiwis are aiming for their first World T20 final and skipper Williamson feels that the team should keep improving constantly if they want to win the tournament. He said, “From our perspective, we want to keep improving as a unit. We are not looking too far down the track, of changing personalities or looking to make drastic changes. We just want to keep taking small steps forward as a team.
“Hope that brings a consistent improvement. Respect the game, you can win, you can lose. T20 is more fickle than any format. Go into the game, play fearless cricket, and play smart cricket as well.”
When asked about the probable first XI for the semi-final, Williamson said that they haven’t yet decided on their side and they would look closely at the conditions to pick the best team possible.
The track at Kotla seemed less conducive to spin, so it will be interesting to see whether New Zealand bring back one of their premier fast bowlers into the playing XI. England, on the other hand, have played on this track in the tournament and will look to use this familiarity with the pitch to their advantage.
England, perennially poor players of spin bowling, did well against the Sri Lankan attack as they were able to neutralise the threat of the spinners. The Kotla track aided to their cause as they tactically played out the spinners without many issues.
Williamson will look forward to his spinners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi, who have done exceptionally well in the tournament, to deliver the goods once again on a track which might not be as effective as the Nagpur pitch for the spin bowlers.
England, on the other hand, will rely on Joe Root’s temperament and Jos Buttler’s belligerence to come out on top in this high-voltage clash.
All said and done, it will be a cracker of a game between the two confident sides. Kane Williamson’s mantra of smart and fearless cricket is surely reverberating in both the camps.