Rivals are ready for their next big clash... with place in final at stake
Evening Standard|November 09, 2021
ON England’s ascent to the top of the world in white-ball cricket, New Zealand have been almost everpresent. They were England’s initial inspiration, then the opponents in a series of stunning World Cup fixtures full of thrills and spills.
Will Macpherson
Rivals are ready for their next big clash... with place in final at stake

Now, as England look to become the first men’s team to hold the ODI and T20 World Cups at the same time, the two sides meet again, in a semi-final tomorrow in Abu Dhabi. The winner will meet Australia or Pakistan in Sunday’s final.

New Zealand shifted the bridesmaids tag at ICC events by winning the inaugural World Test Championship this year and have a strong claim to being the international game’s most consistent side across all formats.

They are yet to win a white-ball World Cup, however. Since 2015, the stories of England and New Zealand’s limited-overs cricket have seemed intertwined. In that year’s 50-over World Cup, New Zealand humiliated England in Wellington. In the lowest ebb of a dismal tournament for England, the Black Caps bowled them out for just 123, then took only 72 balls to knock off the target.

England’s response was to rebuild their side in the image of Brendon McCullum’s gallivanting team. The two sides played out an instant classic five-match series in England.

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