Cricket

New Zealand's T20 World Cup campaign has faced a "chaotic start" due to logistical challenges, according to all-rounder Mitchell Santner. The team opted for extra training sessions instead of an official warm-up game, with players arriving in three batches because of IPL commitments.Despite the initial disruptions, Santner expressed confidence that New Zealand can "really settle in" now that they have moved to Guyana, where they will play their opening group match against Afghanistan on June 8."It's been a chaotic kind of start with people coming in at different times," Santner said. "But we are here now in Guyana, a good week or so to get some good prep done for our first game."The World Cup is being played across nine venues in the Caribbean and the USA, with New Zealand scheduled to play one of their Group C matches in Guyana and three in Tarouba. Santner acknowledged that there is a "little bit of the unknown" about the competition, especially with opponents such as Uganda and Papua New Guinea."It's obviously good to watch [the first few games]. I think that's going to be a common theme in the World Cup, you know, different places will play very differently," he said. "We obviously know what West Indies are capable of doing, but we are not really sure of the other guys."New Zealand is relying on their experienced players, including Kane Williamson, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, and Ish Sodhi, who have played in the Caribbean Premier League, to provide insights into the conditions."As a squad, we have guys who played a lot," Santner said. "And then there are few guys who know these conditions. Glenn has played a lot of CPL and a few other boys as well. Channelling that kind of information is going to be big to hit the ground running."

The advent of T20 cricket initially suggested it was a format tailored for younger players. However, over time, experienced veterans have dominated the game, challenging the notion that it's solely for the young.As the upcoming T20 World Cup approaches, several teams are fielding squads that resemble "dad's armies," with a significant number of players over the age of 30.Australia:Australia's squad boasts only one player under 25, Cameron Green. The core of the team revolves around seasoned veterans such as David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Mathew Wade, all of whom are on the wrong side of 30. Mitchell Marsh, at 32, has been handed the captaincy ahead of Pat Cummins, signaling a preference for fresh ideas over reputation.England:The defending champions, England, have opted for continuity, fielding a similar team to the one that triumphed in Australia in 2022. Led by Jos Buttler and an aging leadership group, the squad is packed with experienced players like Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, and Mark Wood. While they may appear similar to their previous campaign, players like Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, and Jofra Archer have gained valuable experience since then.New Zealand:Kane Williamson continues to lead New Zealand into major tournaments, and he will be joined by a core of senior players who are well past their 30s. Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Devon Conway, Michael Bracewell, Mitch Santner, and Jimmy Neesham form the backbone of the team. Rachin Ravindra, at 24, is the only player under 25, but the firepower of Glenn Phillips and Finn Allen will provide support to the experienced core.Pakistan:Finalists in the last edition, Pakistan will be led by Babar Azam and a similar-looking team. The squad includes the return of Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, who have performed well in the Pakistan Super League. The inclusion of Azam Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and Saim Ayub brings freshness to the team. Experienced campaigners like Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi will provide stability.