The ODI World Cup is a 50-over tournament organized under the aegis of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Its first edition was held in 1975, and its latest edition was organized in 2019. New Zealand is one of the participants in this tournament and has been one of the most competitive and consistent teams, having finished up as runners-up twice in 2015 and 2019. In this article, we take a look at some of the best players for New Zealand in ODI World Cups and their individual records.
1. Stephen Fleming
Stephen Fleming is a former left-handed opening batter and captain of the New Zealand team from Christchurch. Fleming tops this list owing to his contribution both with the bat and the captaincy. From 1996 to 2007, in 33 World Cup matches, Fleming scored 1075 runs at an average of 35.83, with two hundred and five fifties to his name. The team won 16 out of the 27 matches he captained in the World Cup.
2. Ross Taylor
Next, we have a right-handed middle-order batter from Wellington and a New Zealand veteran, Ross Taylor. Taylor featured in four ODI World Cups from 2007 to 2019 and played 33 matches. He scored 1002 runs in 30 innings at an average of 37.11, with one hundred and six fifties to his name.
3. Trent Boult
Trent Boult, New Zealand’s most successful bowler in ODI World Cups, is next on the list. Boult is a left-arm fast-medium bowler born in Rotorua and has featured in two ODI World Cups (2015-2019) till now. In 19 World Cup matches, he has picked up 39 wickets at an average of 21.79 and an economy of 4.61.
4. Jacob Oram
Jacob Oram, one of the finest Kiwi all-rounders of all time, is next to feature on the list. He was a left-handed middle-order batter and a right-arm medium bowler. Oram represented New Zealand in three ODI World Cups from 2003 to 2011 in a total of 23 matches and picked up 36 wickets at an average of 21.33. He also scored 259 runs at an average of 23.54.
5. Martin Guptill
Martin Guptill, one of New Zealand’s most prolific opening batters, is next to feature on the list. Guptill has participated in three ODI World Cups (2011–2019) so far and has played 27 matches. He has scored 995 runs at an average of 43.26 with two hundred and a double hundred to his name.
6. Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s best batter and captain at present, is next to show up on the list. Williamson has been a part of three ODI World Cups (2011–2019) so far and has played 23 matches. He has scored 911 runs at an impressive average of 56.93, with two hundred and three fifties to his name.
7. Daniel Vettori
Daniel Vettori, the former New Zealand captain and one of New Zealand’s most crucial all-rounders, is the next to feature on the list. From 2003 to 2015, Vettori played in 32 World Cup matches, the most for any New Zealand bowler, and picked up 36 wickets at an average of 32.44 and an economy of 4.14.
8. Scott Styris
Scott Styris is a former right-handed batter and a right-arm medium-bowler born in Queensland, Australia. Styris featured in 26 ODI World Cup matches from 2003 to 2011 and scored 909 runs at an impressive average of 53.47 with two hundred and six fifties to his name. He also has 17 wickets to his name at an average of 32.47.
9. Tim Southee
Next, we have Tim Southee, one of New Zealand’s premier new ball bowlers. So far, Southee has played in 18 ODI World Cup matches from 2011 to 2019, picking up 34 wickets at an average of 25.11. He has the best bowling figures for any Kiwi bowler in ODI World Cups, with 7 for 33 against New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup.
10. Shane Bond
Shane Bond, a right-arm fast bowler from Christchurch and one of the world’s fastest bowlers, is next on the list. He was famous for his speed, solid action, and incredible physique. Bond played in two ODI World Cups (2003 and 2007) in 16 matches and picked up 30 wickets at a remarkable average of 17.56 and an economy of 3.50.
