New Zealand is, hands down, one of the strongest and most competitive T20I teams in the world. Time and again, the New Zealand team has proved their worth and capability on the international stage. Their success and achievements are a result of some great players that the country has produced, and today we look at some of their best and longest-serving players in the shortest form of the game.
1. Martin Guptill
First on the list we have Martin Guptill, one of New Zealand’s most successful and prolific opening batters in white-ball cricket. Guptill hails from Auckland and plays as a right-handed batter. He first played in T20Is in 2009 against Australia, and since then has played 121 T20Is for New Zealand. With 3497 runs in 121 matches, he is the third highest run-scorer in T20Is.
2. Ross Taylor
At number two, we have Ross Taylor, a New Zealand legend and a batter par excellence. Taylor was one of New Zealand’s all-format players and an important member of the team. In 2006, he played his first T20I against Sri Lanka at Wellington. He played in 102 T20Is for New Zealand and scored 1909 runs at an average of 26.15.
3. Tim Southee
At number three, there is Tim Southee, the only genuine fast bowler to feature on the list. Southee started playing in T20Is in 2008 and has been doing so ever since. So far, he has played in 95 matches and picked up 114 wickets at an average of 24.96. He is the highest wicket-taker for New Zealand in the shortest format of the game.
4. Kane Williamson
At number four we have Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s current captain and one of New Zealand’s most celebrated cricketers ever. In 2011, Williamson made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe at Harare. He has played in 77 T20Is so far and has scored 2096 runs at an average of 32.24.
5. Ish Sodhi
At number five, we have Ish Sodhi, born in Ludhiana, India. Sodhi is the only leg-spinner to feature on this list. He played his first T20I in 2014 against the West Indies, and since then has played in 76 T20Is. In 76 matches, he has picked up 99 wickets, the second highest for a New Zealand bowler in T20Is, at an average of 21.35.
6. Mitchell Santner
At number six, there is Mitchell Santner, the left-arm orthodox bowler from Hamilton. Apart from his bowling, Santner is also an accomplished lower order batter. Santner played his first T20I against England at Manchester in 2015. From 2015 onwards, he has featured in 72 T20Is so far and picked up 78 wickets at an average of 22.62.
7. Brendon McCullum
At number seven comes one of New Zealand’s most entertaining batters and a former captain, Brendon McCullum. Brendon played his first T20I in 2005 against Australia at Auckland. He featured in 71 T20Is until 2015 and amassed 2140 runs at an average of 35.66 and two hundred to his name.
8. Colin Munro
At number eight is Colin Munro, the left-handed opening batter born in Durban. Munro made his T20I debut in 2012 against South Africa and then gradually found his place in the team as a power-hitter and stroke-maker. He played in 65 T20Is, scoring 1724 runs at an average of 31.34 with three centuries to his name.
9. Nathan McCullum
At number nine, we have Nathan McCullum, Brendon McCullum’s older brother. Nathan played as a right-arm off-spinner and made his T20I debut in 2007 against South Africa at Durban. He played in 63 T20Is for New Zealand and picked up 58 wickets at an average of 22.03.
10. James Neesham
At number ten, we have James Neesham, a left-handed batter and a left-arm fast medium bowler from Auckland. Neesham is one of New Zealand’s premier fast bowling all-rounders at present. He made his T20I debut against South Africa in 2012 and has since appeared in 48 T20Is. He has 607 runs to his name at an average of 25.29 and 25 wickets at an average of 28.40.
