The five-match T20I series will start from February 22, 2021.
Australia's assistant coach Andrew McDonald has heaped praise on the current New Zealand cricket team led by Kane Williamson, saying the current period is Black Caps' best ever in their cricketing history, and some players of the current side will end up as the legends of the game.
He further pointed out that New Zealand has so many future greats in the team and that makes them a very tough team to play against ahead of Australia’s five-match T20I series against the Black Caps. He also lauded Williamson’s leadership in all three formats of the game.
McDonald told reporters: “[It's] probably hands down the best period of cricket in New Zealand history. Some of these players we're currently seeing for New Zealand are going to go down as some of the greats and that makes them a very tough team to play against.”
New Zealand has been enjoying great success for the last couple of years – first, they reached their second consecutive World Cup final, only to miss out on the title to England on boundary count in 2019 and now booked a berth in the World Test Championship final.
He further added, “If you look at their success, it's been underpinned in red-ball cricket by quality bowling attack. I think that bowling attack will probably go down as New Zealand's best bowling attack. In white-ball cricket also, they've got some really good complimenting skill sets. They're well led by Kane Williamson, and they're a reasonably settled side.”
However, the Black Caps are ranked sixth in the ICC T20I rankings, but McDonald is expected a challenging series in New Zealand, saying they have a great depth in the said having so many new talented faces at their side as they are eying to build-up squad for the back-to-back T20 World Cups.
He further explained, “We've seen in the T20 format over the last couple of series they've played some different players and there's no doubt they're having a look at what it looks like for them as well for the T20 WC. They've unearthed some new talent in (Glenn) Phillips, (Tim) Seifert, and Devon Conway as well, so they've added to the depth and they're players we haven't seen a lot of as well.
So they're probably going to create a playing issue, but I always think one of New Zealand's strengths is their ability to work through with the ball. They've got bowlers that execute well under pressure; they're a calm team as well, well led by Kane.”
The 39-year-old also admitted that Australia will try to build a strong middle-order in the upcoming New Zealand series. He added: “[Mitch] Marsh and [Marcus] Stoinis...present great middle-order options for us. We've seen Stoinis' growth and improvement through the IPL, in particular, starting against spin and the intent starting against spin.”
He signed off by saying, “Mitch Marsh I thought had an outstanding BBL, his power hitting in particular with wider deliveries is something he's improved so that makes him a bit of a handful. Philippe started his career at six for the Sixers as well, so he's had exposure in those roles. We've got enough guys that have exposure, it's really whoever gets that opportunity and takes that.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)