2019 ODI World Cup: 3 most lethal opening bowling combinations

#2- Tim Southee & Trent Boult

These two make it here based purely on how well they back each other up at the bowling crease. Southee is often bowling tight line and length at one end, whilst Trent Boult is all-out attack with his in-swinging thunderbolts at the other end. You only need to look at the demolition job these two did of Australia and England at the last World Cup to see what they are capable of as a partnership.

Despite being one of the world’s best ODI bowlers, Boult was considered a Test specialist for the first few years of his career. He only debuted in ODI cricket in 2014, three years after his Test debut. Since then he has taken 122 wickets from just 66 matches. He averages an impressive 24.64 runs per wicket and an equally impressive 29.03 balls bowled per wicket.

Southee doesn’t have a record quite as impressive, however, a lot of his great work often results in wickets for other bowlers. In 133 matches Southee has amassed 175 wickets at a solid average of 34.34, and a strike rate of 38.11.

I believe that in English conditions these two will be crucial to New Zealand’s success. If they can get the ball swinging on a regular basis there is no reason the perennial underdogs cannot claim their first World Cup title.