New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor didn't dispute Crowe's point - "this is my only concern as I assess their chances", Crowe wrote in a column - but believed New Zealand's management of players would protect them against the risk of burnout.
"It's busy, but every other nation is pretty busy as well," Taylor said yesterday.
"The way Hess [coach Mike Hesson] and Brendon [captain McCullum] are wanting to rest players at different times [is good].
"Bowlers will be rotated and, as long as you're winning games, it doesn't matter if you're playing or not."
Taylor also said the style New Zealand want to play was well known. There was no new approach to be put though a trial-and-error period. It was a case of tuning their plans rather than learning new lines.
"We know that what we want to play in New Zealand has been successful over the last little while. If we keep to that blueprint, then I'm sure the team will be confident and put in good performances."
As for himself, "I just love playing," he said. "Any longer than a week off and you start to get rusty."
Sri Lanka's situation is slightly different. Their priority is getting their players attuned to New Zealand conditions. They have World Cup pool games in Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington, as well as trips across the Tasman for matches in Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart.
"I think the more you play, the better," captain Angelo Mathews said.
"It's good experience for us, especially in these [New Zealand] conditions.
"We play a lot in the subcontinent, where conditions are a lot different than this. You have to manage work-loads of fast bowlers, especially, and keep them fit until the end of the World Cup. That is the main concern."
There's a growing wave of optimism about New Zealand's prospects in the World Cup, largely based on their test form of late, with a feeling this group of players are equipped to go deep into the tournament.
Taylor said all that, while pleasing to hear, did not affect the way the players went about their business.
"No, I don't think so. You feel the hype starting to gather for the World Cup, with the way the public are getting in behind us, and who you talk to at the petrol station or supermarket.
"If you ask me that question going into the Cup, I might have a different answer, but now I'm just trying to get better, score as many runs as I can and get the confidence up."
Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates have the skinniest preparation, with two matches apiece.
A numbers game
Total matches each nation will play before the World Cup
Pool A
10 New Zealand (6 v Sri Lanka, 2 v Pakistan, Zimbabwe, South Africa)
8 Sri Lanka (6 v NZ, South Africa, Zimbabwe)
6 Australia (3 v India, 2 v England, Afghanistan, plus a potential tri-series final)
6 England (2 v Australia and India, West Indies, Pakistan, plus a potential tri-series final)
4 Scotland (2 v Ireland, Afghanistan, West Indies)
4 Afghanistan (Scotland, Ireland, India, UAE)
2 Bangladesh (Pakistan and Ireland)
Pool B
7 South Africa (5 v West Indies, Sri Lanka, New Zealand)
7 West Indies (5 v South Africa, England, Scotland)
6 India (3 v Australia, 2 v England, Afghanistan, plus a potential tri-series final)
4 Pakistan (2 v New Zealand, Bangladesh, England)
4 Ireland (2 v Scotland, Afghanistan, Bangladesh)
2 Zimbabwe (New Zealand, Sri Lanka)
2 UAE (Australia, Afghanistan)
?Final warm-up games are not official ODIs.
New Zealand's programme
Today: v Sri Lanka, Hamilton
Saturday: v Sri Lanka, Auckland
Jan 20: v Sri Lanka, Nelson
Jan 23: v Sri Lanka, Dunedin
Jan 25: v Sri Lanka, Dunedin
Jan 29: v Sri Lanka, Wellington
Jan 31: v Pakistan, Wellington
Feb 3: v Pakistan, Napier
Feb 9: v Zimbabwe, Lincoln
Feb 11: v South Africa, Christchurch
