England vs New Zealand, ICC T20 World Cup 2016: Watch out for Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill in first semi-final
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The ICC T20 World Cup has lived up to its hype, providing both thrills and chills for fans all over the world. New Zealand and England which were expected to struggle in Indian conditions actually showed their versatility and will now compete with each other for a place in the final.
IBTimes UK looks at the players to watch out for ahead of the semi-final clash in Delhi on 30 March.
ENGLAND
Joe Root
The pivot, around which England's batting revolves, Joe Root is at present the most complete batsman in all three formats of the game. He started the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2016 with a bang, his 44- ball 83 run-knock helping England chase down 229 against South Africa in what has probably been the best game of the World Cup so far. The Yorkshireman has so far scored 168 runs at a strike rate of 150.
Jos Buttler
It says a lot about the expectations on Jos Buttler's shoulders, that despite scoring 123 runs with a strike rate of 151, many have said that he is having a quiet tournament. The 25-year-old has actually played a key part in England's progress to the semi-finals, the highlight which was his 66-run knock against the hapless Sri Lankans. The Somerset lad who is set to play for the Mumbai Indians in this year's Indian Premier League is probably England's biggest match-winner since Kevin Pietersen.
Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes makes this list mainly because of his last over knock during England's 15-run win over Sri Lanka. It is for this reason that people compare him to the legendary Ian Botham.
NEW ZEALAND
Kane Williamson
Many lamented the fact that the Kiwis would miss Brendon McCullum, but Kane Williamson has risen to the occasion. Williamson dropped his two main bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee from his squad against India, instead of playing three spinners, and it worked. Williamson is aware of his team's strengths and weaknesses. Though his batting has not hit the heights expected of him, he still remains a potential threat.
Mitchell Santner
Who would have expected a slow left-arm spinner to demolish the best players of spin on their home turf? That is what Mitchell Santner did as he spun circles around the Indian batting line-up picking up four wickets for just 11 runs as the Kiwis stunned the hosts by 47 runs in the opening game of the ICC T20 World Cup 2016. With England not great players of spin themselves, Santner might just be person who is the most dangerous player in the Kiwi line-up.
Martin Guptill
The big hitting opener has proved all his doubters wrong by actually thriving in Indian conditions. There were concerns that Guptill's struggles against spin might just hurt New Zealand, but the right-hander has shown his talent, scoring 125 runs at a strike rate of 162 so far. His knock of 80 off just 48 balls against Pakistan included 13 hits to the fence and he will be the key if New Zealand are to progress to the final.
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