ICC World Test Championship 2021: NZ Cricket Team Full Squad, Playing 11

The excitement among the fans is at its highest level as Southampton is all set to host the 1st Finals of the World Test Championship 2021. The final test of WTC 2021 is scheduled from 18 June 2021 to 22 June 2021. Let us learn about the 15-member squad and Playing XI of the New Zealand Cricket Team who are to head India in the final contest to claim the prestigious World Test Championship Trophy of 2021 at The Rose Bowl in Southampton. Hope you enjoy the content of this article.

Image By: ICC

The 15-men Squad of the New Zealand Cricket Team under the captaincy of Kane Williamson is as follows:

BATSMEN

# Henry Nicholls [Playing 11]

Full Name: Henry Michael Nicholls.

Nickname: Nicholls.

Date of Birth: 15 November 1991.

Age: 29 Years.

Place Born: Christchurch, New Zealand.

Batting: Left-handed.

Height: 1.73 m [5 ft 8 in].

Image By: Inside Sport

Born on 15 November 1991, Henry Michael Nicholls is a New Zealand cricket player representing the New Zealand national team and playing for Canterbury in first-class cricket. He has two older brothers, one of them, Willy Nicholls, a Black Caps and White Ferns media correspondent. Henry Nicholls has also been the captain of the reserve New Zealand-A since 2017.

# Kane Williamson [Captain] [Playing 11]

Full Name: Kane Stuart Williamson.

 

Nickname: Steady the Ship.

Date of Birth: 8 August 1990.

Age: 30 Years.

Place Born: Tauranga, New Zealand.

Batting: Right-handed.

Height: 1.73 m [5 ft 8 in].

Image By: Wallpaper Cave

Born on August 8, 1990, Kane Stuart Williamson is a New Zealand international cricket player who currently captains the New Zealand national team in all formats. He is a right-handed batsman and a part-time off-break bowler.

Williamson played his first cricket match in December 2007. He made his first U-19 match against India's U-19 team and in the same year, he was named captain of New Zealand's  U-19 Cricket World Cup 2008. He played his first International match in 2010.

Williamson represented New Zealand in 2011, 2015, and the 2019 Cricket World Cup and 2012, 2014, and 2016 ICC World Twenty20 programs. He made his debut as New Zealand captain at the 2016 ICC World T20 in India. 

He captained New Zealand at the 2019 Cricket World Cup, leading the team to the final and winning the Tournament Player award on the go. On 31 December 2020, he reached the 890 Test batting rating, surpassing Steve Smith and Virat Kohli as the world's first Test batsmen. He was nominated for the Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Male Cricketer for Ten Years, and a Test Cricketer for ten years. Ian Chappell and Martin Crowe placed Williamson among the top four or five top cricketers, as well as Joe Root, Steve Smith, and Virat Kohli.

Williamson was the only New Zealander to be selected for the ICC Test of the Decade (2011-2020). The late New Zealand cricketer, Martin Crowe, has noted that we are "seeing the dawn of our greatest player ever to be a batsman" at Williamson.

# Ross Taylor [Playing 11]

Full Name: Luteru Ross Poutoa Lote Taylor.

Nickname: Rosco, The Pallekele Plunderer.

Date of Birth: 8 March 1984.

Age: 37 Years.

Place Born: Wellington, New Zealand.

Batting: Right-handed.

Height: 1.83 m [6 ft 0 in].

Image By: Wallpaper Cave

"Luteru Ross Poutoa Lote Taylor" was born on March 8, 1984. He is an international cricket player and former captain of the New Zealand national team. He is New Zealand's leading scorer in Test and ODI cricket.

On 21 February 2020, Taylor played in his 100th Test match for New Zealand, against India. Taylor also became the first cricket player to play in 100 games in all three world cricket categories of international cricket. On December 26, 2020, in the first Test against Pakistan, Taylor became New Zealand's most outstanding player in world cricket, playing in his 438th game in all three formats, surpassing Daniel Vettori.

WICKET-KEEPER

# BJ Watling [Keeper] [Playing 11]

Full Name: Bradley John Watling.

Nickname: BJ, Crabby.

Date of Birth: 9 July 1985.

Age: 35 Years.

Place Born: Durban, South Africa.

Batting: Right-handed.

Height: 1.83 m [6 ft 0 in].

Image By: The Cricketer

Bradley-John Watling born July 9, 1985, better known as BJ Watling, is a South Africa-born New Zealand cricket player representing the Northern districts since December 2004. In 2012, Watling took on the role of a wicket-keeper in the Tests.

Watling holds the record for most dismissals by a New Zealand wicket-keeper and holds the highest partnerships record for 6th and 7th wicket in Tests. He is the first wicket-keeper batsman to score 200 runs for New Zealand in the Tests.

In May 2021, Watling announced his retirement from cricket following New Zealand's visit to England to play in the Test series and the 2019-21 ICC World Test Championship in June 2021.

# Devon Conway [Keeper] [Playing 11]

Full Name: Devon Philip Conway.

Nickname: Conway.

Date of Birth: 8 July 1991

Age: 29 Years.

Place Born: Johannesburg, South Africa.

Batting: Left-handed.

Height: 1.80 m [5 ft 11 in].

Image By: Sportskeeda

Devon Philip Conway, who was born on July 8, 1991, is an international cricket player, born in South Africa, now playing in New Zealand, where he qualified to represent the New Zealand cricket team.  The International Cricket Council (ICC) in March 2020, confirmed that Devon Conway would be eligible to play for New Zealand from 28 August 2020. In May 2020, New Zealand Cricket awarded him a central contract, ahead of the 2020–21 season.

Conway played his first game for New Zealand in November 2020. In June 2021, in his first Test match, Conway became the second New Zealand batsman after Matthew Sinclair, the seventh overall, to hit a double century in his first Test.

# Tom Blundell [Keeper]

Full Name: Thomas Ackland Blundell.

Nickname: Tom Blundell.

Date of Birth: 1 September 1990.

Age: 30 Years.

Place Born: Wellington, New Zealand.

Batting: Right-handed.

Height: 1.90 m [6 ft 3 in].

Image By: Deccan Herald

Thomas Ackland Blundell, born September 1, 1990, is a New Zealand cricketer. Blundell made his debut for the New Zealand national cricket team in January 2017. He also plays first-class cricket representing Wellington. In April 2019, he was named in the NZ's One International (ODI) team for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, although he was not included in the ODI match.

Blundell was named in the New Zealand squad for the 2010 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He started playing first-class cricket in 2013. In June 2018, he was offered a contract with Wellington for the 2018-19 season.

In January 2017 he was added to New Zealand's Twenty20 International (T20I) as a wicket-keeper in their third match against Bangladesh following the injury of Luke Ronchi. On 8 January 2017, he made his debut in a T20I match for New Zealand against Bangladesh.

In January 2017, he was added to New Zealand's One International (ODI) team as a wicket-keeper against Australia but did not play.

In November 2017, he was added to the New Zealand Test Team in their series playing against the West Indies. He started his first Test match in New Zealand against the West Indies on December 1, 2017.

# Tom Latham [Vice Captain] [Keeper] [Playing 11]

Full Name: Thomas William Maxwell Latham.

Nickname: Tommy.

Date of Birth: 2 April 1992.

Age: 29 Years.

Place Born: Christchurch, New Zealand.

Batting: Left-handed.

Height: 1.73 m [5 ft 8 in].

Image By: Wallpaper Cave

Born on April 2, 1992, Thomas William Maxwell Latham is a New Zealand cricketer, who represents New Zealand at both Test and One Day International (ODI) formats, and is the team's vice-captain in both these formats. In January 2020, Latham led the NZ's Test Test team for the first time.

He is basically a batsman and plays as a wicket-keeper. Playing for Canterbury, he made his first cricket match against Central Districts in 2010 at Plunket Shield. He was selected for the One-Day International series against Zimbabwe in 2012 and played his first ODI match on February 3, 2012. He played his first Test match against India in February 2014.

Latham is the son of former New Zealand cricketer Rod Latham.

ALL-ROUNDER

# Colin de Grandhomme [Playing 11]

Full Name: Colin de Grandhomme.

Nickname: CDG, The Big Man, Dutchy.

Date of Birth: 22 July 1986.

Age: 34 Years.

Place Born: Harare, Zimbabwe.

Role: Batting All-rounder.

Height: 1.83 m [6 ft 0 in].

Image By: Googly Cricket

Colin de Grandhomme, born on July 22, 1986, is a Zimbabwe-born New Zealand cricketer who plays in all aspects of the game.

de Grandhomme, who studied at St George's College, Harare, began his career playing for Manicaland in Zimbabwe. He played for Auckland in New Zealand at home cricket from 2006 till 2018. De Grandhomme played for Zimbabwe in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh. In 2017, de Grandhomme joined Warwickshire. He was a big part of their success with the Natwest T20 Blast scoring 38 runs in a quarter-final match against Surrey at The Oval.

de Grandhomme played his first international match on 11 February 2012 in the T20 International match against Zimbabwe. His first ODI match was against South Africa on March 3, 2012, where he scored 36 runs off 36 balls.

In November 2016, de Grandhomme was selected for the New Zealand Test Team to play Pakistan and appeared in the first Test match on 17 November.

# Will Young

Full Name: William Alexander Young. 

Nickname: Will Young.

Date of Birth: 22 November 1992.

Age: 28 Years.

Place Born: New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Role: Batting All-rounder

Height: 1.80 m [5 ft 11 in].

Image By: The Cricketer

William Alexander Young was born on November 22, 1992. He is a professional cricket player who plays for the New Zealand cricket team. Young captained New Zealand's under-19 cricket team at the 2012 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He played his 1st match for the New Zealand cricket team in December 2020.

In December 2018, he was selected for the New Zealand Test Team of the series for the first time against Sri Lanka but did not play.

In March 2019, Young was selected to make his first Test cricket match the day before the Test match between New Zealand and Bangladesh scheduled to start at the Hagley Oval. However, a terrorist attack on Christchurch that afternoon led to the cancellation of the match by New Zealand Cricket.

BOWLER

# Ajaz Patel

Full Name: Ajaz Yunus Patel.

Nickname: Ajaz Patel.

Date of Birth: 21 October 1988.

Age: 32 Years.

Place Born: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Bowling: Slow Left-arm Orthodox.

Height:  1.68 m [5 ft 6 in].

Image By: Hindustan Times

Ajaz Yunus Patel born on 21 October 1988, is a New Zealand cricket player who plays for the Central Districts in 1st class cricket.  He played his first international match for New Zealand in October 2018. The following month, he played his first match in the New Zealand Tests, taking five wickets in the second innings.  He and his family moved from Mumbai when he was eight years old and was previously a left-arm pace bowler. In May 2020, New Zealand Cricket awarded him a central-term contract, ahead of the 2020-21 season.

# Kyle Jamieson [Playing 11]

Full Name: Kyle Jamieson. 

Nickname: Killa.

Date of Birth: 30 December 1994.

Age: 26 Years.

Place Born: Auckland, New Zealand.

Bowling: Right-arm medium-fast.

Height: 2.03 m [6 ft 8 in].

Image By: Wallpaper Cave

Born on December 30, 1994, Kyle Jamieson is a New Zealand cricketer. He attended Auckland Grammar School and was one of the New Zealand players to take part in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He played his 1st international match for the New Zealand cricket team in February 2020 against India. In May 2020, New Zealand Cricket awarded him a central-term contract, ahead of the 2020-21 season.

# Matt Henry

Full Name: Matthew James Henry.

Nickname: Matt Henry.

Date of Birth: 14 December 1991.

Age: 29 Years.

Place Born: Christchurch, New Zealand.

Bowling: Right-arm medium-fast.

Height: 1.88 m [6 ft 2 in].

Image By: News 18

Matthew James Henry born on December 14, 1991, is a New Zealand cricketer who plays for Canterbury and the New Zealand national team. He is a right-arm medium-fast bowler.

Henry has played for Canterbury in local cricket in New Zealand since 2011, playing his first cricket match in 2010-11 [Plunket Shield against Wellington in March 2011]. Henry played his first international match on 31 January 2014 in the fifth ODI against India. He made his T20 International debut for New Zealand in a match against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates on 4 December 2014.

# Neil Wagner [Playing 11]

Full Name: Neil Wagner.

Nickname: Wagner.

Date of Birth: 13 March 1986.

Age: 35 Years.

Place Born: Pretoria, South Africa.

Bowling: Left-arm medium-fast.

Height: 1.86 m [6 ft 1 in].

Image By: Hindustan Times

Neil Wagner was born on March 13, 1986. He is a South Africa-born New Zealand cricket player who plays for New Zealand and Northern District cricket teams.

On April 6, 2011, Wagner set a world record where he grabbed four wickets in four deliveries against Wellington when he knocked out Stewart Rhodes, Joe Austin-Smellie, Jeetan Patel, and Ili Tugaga. He then took Mark Gillespie's wicket in the last ball of the over. This is the first time and, so far, the only record that has been achieved in first-class cricket. His bowling best for an innings was 6/36, which is the overall best at the time.

# Tim Southee [Playing 11]

Full Name: Timothy Grant Southee.

Nickname: Timmy, TNT.

Date of Birth: 11 December 1988.

Age: 32 Years.

Place Born: Northland, New Zealand.

Bowling: Right-arm medium-fast.

Height: 1.93 m [6 ft 4 in].

Image By: Sportskeeda

Born on December 11, 1988, Timothy Grant Southee is a New Zealand cricket player who plays in all formats of games. He’s a right-arm medium-fast bowler and a hard hitter in the lower order. He is New Zealand's third bowler to take 300 test wickets. He was one of the youngest cricketers in New Zealand, who first appeared at the age of 19 in February 2008.

Southee is known for his productive ability to late-swing the ball at high speed, and sometimes bowling slow-moving off-cutter that almost resembles a quick off-spinner on a wet wicket. He was third-highest in wicket-takers for the 2011 ICC World Cup (18 wickets at 17.33). He was also impressive at the 2015 ICC World Cup, taking seven wickets in a round league match against England. This performance by him was acknowledged as Wisden's ODI spell of the decade.

# Trent Boult [Playing 11]

Full Name: Trent Alexander Boult.

Nickname: Thunderbolt, TNT, Lightning-Bolt.

Date of Birth: 22 July 1989.

Age: 31 Years.

Place Born: Rotorua, New Zealand.

Bowling: Left-arm medium-fast.

Height: 1.80 m [5 ft 11 in].

Image By: Wallpaper Cave

Born on 22 July 1989, Trent Alexander Boult is a New Zealand international cricket player who plays as a medium-fast bowler for the Northern District in New Zealand's domestic cricket and represents New Zealand in world cricket.

A left-handed and right-handed bowler,  Boult made his Test debut for New Zealand in December 2011 and his ODI debut in the following July. He was the leading wicket-taker in the 2015 Cricket World Cup. In November 2018, he became the third New Zealand bowler to take a hat-trick in the ODIs. In June 2019, Boult became New Zealand's first bowler to take a hat-trick in the Cricket World Cup.

With these talented and skilled players in their Squad, New Zealand would be looking forward to clinching the title and create history by winning the 1st World Test Championship 2021. To support your team, comment in the comment box below and hope for their victory.

Full Squad: Kane Williamson [Captain], Tom Latham [Wicket-Keeper] [Vice-Captain], Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling [Wicket-Keeper], Devon Conway [Wicket-Keeper], Tom Blundell [Wicket-Keeper], Colin de Grandhomme, Will Young, Ajaz Patel, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.

Probable XI: Kane Williamson [Captain], Tom Latham [Wicket-Keeper] [Vice-Captain], Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling [Wicket-Keeper], Tom Blundell [Wicket-Keeper], Will Young, Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.

Playing XI: Kane Williamson [Captain], Tom Latham [Wicket-Keeper] [Vice-Captain], Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling [Wicket-Keeper], Devon Conway [Wicket-Keeper], Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.

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