Adam Parore: World Cup payback time for Black Caps

COMMENT

The one-day tri-series in India is a chance for the Black Caps to shake off some of the disappointment they felt with the below-par effort at the World Cup.

I'm sure they felt aggrieved that it was India playing that final, not them. Now they have a chance to play the World Cup finalists, but it is a tough ask to play Australia and India on the subcontinent.

Australia are difficult opponents anywhere, but this is a good chance for the New Zealanders to step up, even if they are without premier one-day batsman Nathan Astle.

They would have been gutted with the effort against Australia at the World Cup, but now, with the advantage of being better acclimatised, should be ready to make amends.

For once, we appear to be closer to full strength than Australia. If we are ever going to tip the Australians up, this is it. To do that, we must get in front from the start and force the pace.

Although the Black Caps did not win the two-test series against India, they will take the momentum and confidence from two good efforts into the one-dayers.

The much-vaunted Indian spin attack looked ordinary, whereas our spinners did a good job.

And we certainly weren't overshadowed with the bat. Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent, Scott Styris and Craig McMillan all scored good second-test centuries to make sure they wouldn't lose the series.

It was a feather in their cap that four players could score good hundreds. The only other time New Zealand have done that was in Perth, when Vincent, Stephen Fleming, Astle and I did it against Australia.

McMillan's return to form was a big plus. Before the tour I thought he would score a heap of runs. He has had a bit of time off and got his personal life in control.

For me there is more interest in how Chris Harris and Chris Cairns perform. Provided he gets over this latest injury, Cairns will be important in the balance of the side.

I'm interested to see how they use Harris. He says he is keen to carry on to the next World Cup, but wanting to and being able to are different things.

It became clear at the last World Cup that Harris needs to bat and bowl to fit in. At this stage of his career, it is important that he takes it series by series.

There will also be some interest in how wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum does with the gloves and bat. His batting form has been sporadic in the past, but in the last 12 months he has kept pretty well.

While the new-ball bowling has been pretty good, we still have a problem at the death. And that, more than anything else, is something we have to be concerned about in this series.

It is the only part of our game that has been dragging the chain. If one of India's top batsmen is on a century with 10 overs remaining, watch out.