Peter White assesses the performances at the Cricket World Cup of Tauranga's two home grown Black Caps in Trent Boult and Kane Williamson.
Trent Boult
Age: 25
Educated: Tauranga Intermediate, Otumoetai College
2015 Cricket World Cup
Bowling: Final 1/40 v Australia, semifinal 2/53 v South Africa, quarterfinal 4/44 v West Indies, 2/56 v Bangladesh, 3/34 v Afghanistan, 5/27 v Australia, 1/32 v England, 2/21 v Scotland, 2/64 v Sri Lanka
Totals: 22 wickets, first equal leading wicket taker in the tournament, average 16.86, 4.36 runs per over
This has been the launch of Trent Boult on the world ODI stage. He has taken 110 test wickets and is a first choice pick bowling with a red ball but was not regarded as a one day bowler until this tournament. He ended up with 22 wickets, the best haul equal with Australian Mitchell Stark, and single handed destroyed Australia on that memorable afternoon at Eden Park.
He richly deserves his success and we can look forward to him spearheading our pace attack in all forms of the game for many years to come.
Grade: A
Kane Williamson
Age: 24
Educated: Otumoetai Intermediate, Tauranga Boys' College
2015 Cricket World Cup
Batting: Final 12 v Australia, semifinal 6 v South Africa, quarter-final 33 v West Indies, 1 v Bangladesh, 33 v Afghanistan, 45no v Australia, 9no v England, 38 v Scotland, 57 v Sri Lanka
Totals: 222 runs, average 33.42, strike rate 78.00
By Williamson's remarkable success over the last 12 months in all forms of the game but particularly limited overs cricket, his World Cup was a huge disappointment. Just one 50 in nine innings is below par for this genuine run machine and one of the best young batsmen in the world. The highlight was undoubtedly his composed unbeaten 45 with a match winning six against Australia in the pool match.
No doubt Williamson will soak up the grand final experience he went through and become an even better player in the next stage of his development towards asserting himself as our finest batsmen, aboveeven Martin Crowe, Glenn Turner and Bert Sutcliffe.
Grade: C+
* Read more about the cricket showdown and its impact on our very own true blue Aussie supporter Craig Nicholson who compares notes with self-professed number 1 Black Caps fan Peter White here.
