New Zealand might be a small country. In fact, out of all the Test playing nations, New Zealand has the least population. But never doubt their pedigree when it comes to producing sporting icons and in particular, cricketing icons. New Zealand have a history of punching above their weight when it comes to ICC tournaments. They are the giant slayers, the ones that every team is wary of and respects.
New Zealand played the first game of Test cricket back in 1930 against England in Christchurch, a game they lost by eight wickets. They regularly played Test cricket thereon but had to wait for 26 years to register their first win in the format, which they registered in 1956 against West Indies in Auckland. New Zealand have since produced some of the greatest icons that have stepped onto a cricket field. From Martin Crowe, Richard Hadlee to Stephen Fleming, Brendon McCullum, and Kane Williamson New Zealand have a rich history of sporting greats.
New Zealand played their first ODI in 1973 against Pakistan in Christchurch which they won by 22 runs. They have never managed to win the ODI or T20I World Cup but have come close none closer than the 2019 ODI World Cup when they suffered a heartbreaking loss at Lord’s. They qualified for the final of the 2021 T20 World Cup as well but lost to Australia in the final. New Zealand do have two ICC titles: the knockout trophy which they won in 2000 and the inaugural World Test Championship that they claimed in June 2021, both by defeating India.
New Zealand are currently led by the Tim Southee on the Test circuit and the affable Kane Williamson in ODIs and T20Is
Captains: Tim Southee (Test), Kane Williamson (ODI, T20I)
Coaches: Gary Stead (head coach), Luke Ronchi (batting coach), Jacob Oram (bowling coach), James Foster (fielding coach)
First Test match: 1930
First ODI: 1973
First T20I: 2005
Cricket board: New Zealand Cricket (NZC)
ICC titles: 2
New Zealand in T20 International cricket
| Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R | Winning% |
| 220 | 111 | 92 | 10 | 7 | 50.45 |
New Zealand first played T20I cricket against Australia back in 2005. The format at the time was at its nascent stage and not a lot of teams took it seriously. Australia and New Zealand came out wearing retro jerseys and sporting headbands. New Zealand lost the match in Auckland by 44 runs. It didn’t take them time to register their first win in the format, getting there in their second T20I against South Africa.
New Zealand have played a total of 220 T20I matches, out of which they have won 111, lost 92 and 10 matches have ended in a tie, which were later settled via a Super Over. Seven of their matches have been washed out due to rain. In T20Is, New Zealand have a win percentage of 50.45 which is a pretty decent number considering the volatile nature of the format.
They have played the most T20Is against Pakistan, a whopping 44 out of which they have won 19 and lost 23 while two have been no results. Against countries they have played at least 10 T20Is, New Zealand have the best record against Bangladesh against whom they have played 20 games, won 15 and lost just four, with one game getting washed out. Their worst record is against South Africa: four wins and 11 losses in 15 T20Is.
New Zealand’s record against other countries (minimum 10 T20Is)
| Opponent | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | N/R |
| Pakistan | 44 | 19 | 23 | 0 | 2 |
| England | 27 | 10 | 15 | 1 | 1 |
| India | 25 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 0 |
| Sri Lanka | 23 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Bangladesh | 20 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| West Indies | 20 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Australia | 19 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| South Africa | 15 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
New Zealand in T20 World Cups
Most runs: Kane Williamson (727 runs)
Most wickets: Tim Southee (36)
Highest score: Brendon McCullum (123*)
Captains: Kane Williamson, Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor
New Zealand might not be the strongest teams on paper but they have produced some of the memorable displays of cricket and are one of the most successful teams in the T20 World Cup history, but have unfortunately never lifted the trophy.
New Zealand have in all played 45 games at the T20 World Cup, out of which they have won 25 games and lost 19, with two games ending in a tie which were later decided via a Super Over. New Zealand qualified for the semi-final in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup but had four group-stage exits in the next four editions. They made it to the semis in 2016 and ended as runners-up in 2021 losing to Australia. There was another semi-final exit in store for New Zealand in 2021 but they had a disappointing time in 2024 where they were ousted in the group stage itself.
New Zealand have in all played four semi-finals and a final in the nine editions of the T20 World Cup. Kane Williamson is their highest run-scorer in the tournament’s history while Tim Southee has picked the most wickets. Brendon McCullum and Glenn Phillips are the only ones to have scored a century for New Zealand in the T20 World Cup.
New Zealand’s record in T20 World Cups (2007 to 2024)
| T20 World Cup | Hosts | New Zealand’s finish | Winners | Highest Scorer | Most Wickets |
| 2007 | South Africa | Semi-final exit | India | Craig McMillan | Daniel Vettori |
| 2009 | England | Group Stage exit | Pakistan | Brendon McCullum | Ian Butler |
| 2010 | West Indies | Group Stage exit | England | Brendon McCullum | Nathan McCullum |
| 2012 | Sri Lanka | Group stage exit | West Indies | Brendon McCullum | Tim Southee |
| 2014 | Bangladesh | Group stage exit | Sri Lanka | Kane Williamson | Trent Boult |
| 2016 | India | Semi-final exit | West Indies | Martin Guptill | Mitchell Santner |
| 2021 | UAE | Runners-up | Australia | Kane Williamson | Trent Boult |
| 2022 | Australia | Semi-final exit | England | Glenn Phillips | Mitchell Santner |
| 2024 | USA and West Indies | Group stage exit | India | Devon Conway | Trent Boult |
T20 World Cup 2007 – Semi-final exit
New Zealand went to South Africa for the T20 World Cup high on confidence. They had a good team with solid batters and good all-rounders. They started their campaign by thrashing Kenya by nine wickets before going down to Sri Lanka by seven wickets. They then beat India, England, and South Africa to comfortably book a place in the semi-finals. But, they met Pakistan in the final four and went down by six wickets to be ousted from the competition.
T20 World Cup 2009 – Group stage exit
The next four editions of the T20 World Cup turned out to be not so great for New Zealand. They travelled to England for the 2009 edition of the T20 World Cup. They began with a seven-wicket win against Scotland, but then went down narrowly to South Africa. New Zealand comfortably beat Ireland but losses to Pakistan and Sri Lanka signalled the end of their tournament in the group stage itself.
T20 World Cup 2010 – Group stage exit
The 2010 edition of the T20 World Cup did not come bearing good news, either. New Zealand did win three out of five group games, but lost out due to the net run rate. They began with confident wins against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Then they lost to South Africa by 13 runs, beat Pakistan by one run but a loss to England by three wickets meant their tournament ended in the group stage.
T20 World Cup 2012 – Group stage exit
Another T20 World Cup, another edition where New Zealand did not make it past the group stage. New Zealand started with a 59-run win against Bangladesh but lost to Pakistan and then Sri Lanka in the Super Over. They then suffered a loss against England by six wickets and lost to West Indies, again in a Super Over to exit the World Cup meekly.
T20 World Cup 2014 – Group stage exit
When New Zealand travelled to the 2014 T20 World Cup, they had a budding side with some good young players. They began the tournament in Bangladesh well, defeating England by nine runs (DLS method) in Chattogram. Then they suffered a loss at the hands of South Africa but romped back to defeat Netherlands. However, a loss against Sri Lanka ended their hopes of making the semi-final.
T20 World Cup 2016 – Semi-final exit
New Zealand had their best ever start at a T20 World Cup in India in 2016. They began the tournament with wins against India, Australia, Pakistan and Bangladesh to qualify for the semi-finals for just the second time in their history and that too unbeaten. In the semis, though, they came up against a rampaging England side. Batting first, New Zealand were restricted to a mere 153 for 8. England did not break much of a sweat in gunning down that target by seven wickets and nearly three overs to spare.
T20 World Cup 2021 – Runners-up
New Zealand’s best effort at the T20 World Cup came when they travelled to the UAE for the 2021 edition. It seemed that the stars were finally aligning for them. Their tournament began with a five-wicket loss at the hands of Pakistan. Then they beat India by eight wickets, Scotland by 16 runs, Namibia by 52 runs and Afghanistan by eight wickets to storm into the semi-final of the competition.
In the final four, they met England who batting first scored 166 for 4. It was a daunting total, but Daryl Mitchel combined with James Neesham to take New Zealand to their first-ever final at a T20 World Cup. In the final in Dubai, they met old nemesis Australia. New Zealand batted first and scored 172 for 4, but Australia led by Mitchell Marsh’s half-century romped home.
T20 World Cup 2022 – Semi-final exit
The teams travelled to Australia for the 2022 edition of the T20 World Cup. New Zealand began their journey with a commanding 89-run win over Australia. Their match against Afghanistan was abandoned without a ball being bowled before New Zealand registered victories against Sri Lanka and Ireland to qualify for yet another World Cup semi-final. There they met Pakistan who proved to be too strong for them. New Zealand lost by seven wickets and had to go back home trophyless yet again.
T20 World Cup 2024 – Group stage exit
The New Zealand players will be the first to admit that the 2024 edition of the T20 World Cup was their poorest. Nothing much went to plan for them. In their first match, they were skittled out for a mere 75 by Afghanistan to go down by a mammoth 84-run margin. Then they lost to West Indies by 13 runs and despite wins against Uganda and Papua New Guinea, New Zealand’s tournament ended before even properly starting.
What to expect from New Zealand
New Zealand might not have all the stars in their unit but they have forever been a side with all the right kind of personnel. Granted they did not have the best of times at the T20 World Cup 2024, but they have the people to take them forward when the next edition comes about in 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. By that time, New Zealand will have a new captain as Kane Williamson has stepped down. Who will that be is anyone’s guess but New Zealand are not ones who can be taken lightly, not now not in the future.
