Black Caps all-rounder says they are underdogs in their T20
World Cup semi-final with
England – but insists they can beat anyone
![New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner: ‘I don’t think 2019 will come up much’](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/bd67005b694c2fbc996a1144718807c231c3354d/0_29_3200_1921/master/3200.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=6f8de49c879323cccc3fbda7875ac3c4)
It is the morning after
New Zealand qualified for the T20 World Cup semi-finals by pipping the pre-tournament favourites,
India, to second spot in their Super 12s group, and Mitchell Santner is heading out to play
golf. This will surprise nobody who knows him – after all, he describes himself in his
Instagram bio as a part-time cricketer and full-time golfer – but perhaps his ability to turn off and switch his attention to a different kind of white ball at this of all moments illustrates how comfortable his team have become with major-tournament success.
They are making a habit of playing their way into the serious end of the sport’s most important competitions. New Zealand have reached the last four of the last four 50-over World Cups – and the last two finals – were 2016 Twenty20 semi-finalists, 2021 World Test champions, and are continuing their run of multiformat form by shining once again in the United Arab Emirates.