Five months after World Test Championship glory, New Zealand prepare for another global final

Tim Seifert is set to replace Devon Conway with the gloves after New Zealand's wicketkeeper broke his hand by punching his bat after being dismissed against England on Wednesday

There is a video going around social media at the moment, starring Devon Conway and Tim Seifert in anticipation of tomorrow’s final.

Conway’s right hand was wrapped in a cast after the unfortunate, self-inflicted break that has ruled him out of contention. So, Seifert – who will replace him, it was confirmed by Kane Williamson on Saturday – was the man donning the gloves, catching balls thrown to him by his teammate’s good hand.

New Zealand are a happy, harmonious team – world champions in the Test arena, runners-up in the last two instalments of the 50-over World Cup, now with a chance to add this trophy to an ever-swelling viewpoint that Kane Williamson’s men deserve to be considered as the defining outfit of their generation.

For years, dating back to the regeneration of the Black Caps as a force under the captaincy of Brendon McCullum, the nagging absence of silverware was the sticking point. The outdated, boring trope that nice guys don’t win.

But then in June, Williamson lifted an enormous mace to put a stop to that perception. The image of his team changed overnight. Until then – externally, at least – it was difficult to shake the memories of the drama at Lord’s and the summer of 2019, when so much conspired against his side.

On the eve of this opportunity, though, it is fascinating to reminisce: if any of those events had worked out differently – the deflection off Ben Stokes’ bat or Trent Boult’s errant step on the boundary rope – then tomorrow might just be for a historic treble.

One of the narratives around England until their demise to Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham was of the chance to hold both white-ball titles at once. No one has ever done that before. New Zealand, but for fate, would have been playing tomorrow for the right to both white-ball titles and the World Test Championship.

There are no medals for hindsight though, so the chance to win a maiden men’s T20 World Cup – five months after beating India at the Ageas Bowl over six days – will have to do.

Keepers working together at Friday night training in Dubai. #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/y1fme4MQTD

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 12, 2021

“It would be some achievement,” said Williamson at the pre-final press conference. “But you know, where it stands at the moment is there’s a game of cricket to play, and for us, it’s focusing on that and focusing on our cricket and looking to go out there and implement those things that are important to us.

“I suppose it’s always a bit of a journey and, as a side, you’re always trying to improve and grow and it’s been great that it's been the case over a period of time, and we have sort of seen it in a snapshot here at a tournament where the team has managed to make steps forward and improve as a side, and I suppose that’s reflected in where we sit at the moment.

“But having said that, that challenge is going to be there and will continue to be there. So, we’re looking forward to the occasion tomorrow. It’s another match and another opportunity for us as a team to go out and play.”

It is the straightforward talk of the world’s best all-format team, led imperiously by its universally respected frontman.

He was one of four New Zealanders involved when they last faced Australia in the final of a global tournament six years ago. Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Martin Guptill were the others. They came second. Not since 1981 – a run now spanning 16 matches – have New Zealand won a knockout game against their nearest rivals.

As well as Conway, New Zealand are missing Lockie Ferguson, the second-highest wicket-taker at the 2019 World Cup, who was ruled out of the tournament on the day of their opening game. His replacement, Adam Milne, has neutralised that loss, which says plenty for the quality in reserve for a small nation where cricket is far from the main sport.

“Obviously, the loss of Devon is a big one,” Williamson added. “You know, he’s been a big part in all formats for us; a disappointing and really freak thing to happen.”

^{Daryl Mitchell had never opened the batting in T20 cricket before this tournament but struck a match-winning fifty against England}

In his absence, they could potentially have handed the gloves to Glenn Phillips – already in the side, though an additional bowling option with his off-breaks – and opted for Mark Chapman, the reserve batter, whose inclusion would have maintained Conway’s left-handedness. As it is, New Zealand’s entire top five is made up of right-handers, which could well play into the hands of Adam Zampa, Australia’s excellent leg-spinner, the most potent bowler in the competition since the start of the Super 12s.

“Yeah, Adam Zampa is a world-class bowler,” said Williamson, “one of the top in the world and complemented nicely by obviously some of the top seamers in the world. As a side, they have got a lot of match winners, and you know, I think that’s a large part of the strength in their team throughout.”

Partially due to the geography of the pandemic, these two countries have seen plenty of one another in the last two years. None of those games were as big as this, though.

“It’s great that obviously we’re playing our neighbour on the other side of the world in a World Cup final. You know, a really exciting prospect for both teams.”

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