Home
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting expressed that he has been surprised by New Zealand's selection in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 so far. Ponting wants New Zealand to open with Devon Conway and Will Young to maintain right and left combination at the top instead of Rachin Ravindra.
"They opened with Will Young and Conway against Pakistan and Bangladesh but brought in Rachin Ravindra against India in the last group game," Ponting said on The ICC Review.
"I was a bit surprised those guys (Conway and Rachin) going in and out. Over the years they have both been consistent. Will Young has been good. But I'll be going back to Conway at the top, left-right combination."
Young rises up to the occassion
As Ravindra was unfit to play in New Zealand's campaign opener against Pakistan, Young opened the innings. Young made the opportunity count and scored a match-winning 107 against Mohammad Rizwan's Pakistan. He laid the platform for a score that was too big for Pakistan to chase down.
Ravindra back with century, Conway dropped against India
In the second game against Bangladesh, Young departed for a six-ball duck whereas Conway scored 30. Ravindra who made a comeback and batted at no.4 scored 112 in the run chase. As a result, Conway was dropped from the side for match against India. Ravindra was promoted as opener and Daryl Mitchell batted at no.4. The move did not work as Ravindra got out early to Hardik Pandya. Young and Mitchell could not make an impact either.
Conway's ODI record vs South Africa
Conway has played two ODIs against South Africa and scored 99 runs. In ODI World Cup 2023, he was dismissed for a single-digit score by Marco Jansen. In the tri-series, the southpaw scored 97 runs in the successful run chase agianst Temba Bavuma-led South Africa.
On the other hand, Young has 52 runs from two innings against South Africa. Ravindra made just one appearance against the Proteas and registered a single-digit score.
