The New Zealand cricket team is in touching distance of another ICC title in just 5 months. They have played some tremendous cricket in this short period and look like the hot favorite to lift this trophy. However, their opponent Australia, has also been in formidable form in recent matches. And there’s another situation that New Zealand has to deal with, coming into this match.
In their last game, their middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper Devon Conway injured himself while venting his frustration. Conway made 46 runs while chasing a target of 166 and was disappointed for not being able to take his side over the line. The batter punched his bat, a very innocuous-looking action that led to a fracture in his hand. As a result, he was ruled out of the final.
Now New Zealand has a task at hand to bring in a proper replacement, and they have decided to go with Tim Seifert, another wicketkeeper-batsman. The 26-year-old might be a little inexperienced for the biggest stage but has considerable experience playing franchise cricket around the globe. He was recently a part of the Trinbago Knight Riders XI in the CPL final (2020) and the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in IPL 2021 final.
Kane Williamson, too had his say on the mix experience of Seifert. “Some of the younger players – they keep coming through in all teams. (They) love to hit the ball out of the park and (are) really exciting talents… Seifert is very much like that,” Williamson said reports ESPNcrickinfo. The absence of Conway from the squad will be a huge issue for New Zealand to counter. Conway was the guarding left-hander in the middle order of New Zealand, and his absence will expose the right-handed middle-order to Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who too is enjoying the form of his life.
With that being said, the final between New Zealand and Australia will still be a great match; it promises plenty of action.