ICC World Cup 2019: Shane Warne sees New Zealand as a potential winner of the mega event

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is just months away and speculations are rife as to which team or teams are the top contenders to win the tournament. The twelfth edition of mega ICC event will be played in England and Wales from May 30. Although hosts England and two-time champions India are tipped to be the favorites to lift the title this year; former Australia leg spinner Shane Warne has also come up with another team, which has the potential to lift the World Cup trophy. That side is the perennial underdogs New Zealand. New Zealand are ranked no.3 in the current ICC ODI men’s team rankings.

Shane Warne, who was named the Wisden’s Cricketer of the 20th Century, said that the Kane Williamson led Kiwi side will do wonderfully well in the tournament. He pointed out that thought the New Zealand side will miss their charismatic former captain Brendon McCullum, the team will do well as they progress in the tournament.

Under the leadership of Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand side made it into the finals of the 2015 edition of the World Cup, only to lose to Australia. This was the first time the New Zealand side reached the finals of the World Cup, after losing in the semi-finals for five times.

Warne told the Herald, “Obviously they’re going to miss Brendon [McCullum]. I mean Baz is such a great leader and he’s such a great player, so they’re going to miss him. But you know they’ve got some good players there at the moment. They’re always dangerous. [New Zealand] always do well in big ICC events and World Cups. They’re always there or thereabouts. So write them off at your own peril. But I think England and India are the two favourites going into it.”

The 49-year-old leg-spinner, who won the ICC World Cup in 1999 said that New Zealand has the players and the team to provide them the correct balance needed. It is their ability to go under the radar that helps them do well, since everyone talks about every other team but them and New Zealand are able to do wonders with very less pressure on them.

Warne also recalled the rivalry shared by the Trans-Tasmanian neighbors which has been documented brilliantly so far in the World Cup history. He said though there have been moments between the two teams, Australians love playing against New Zealand, as they are very nice people.

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