KEY POINTS:
Stephen Fleming took the accolades from the world's press this morning after his century guided New Zealand to an easy win over Bangladesh.
This forum debate has now closed. Here is a selection of your views on the topic.
Rob
I think NZ should give a good account
of themselves in the semis and have a great chance of making the final...especially if they can avoid the aussies..An Oz/NZ final would be a mouth-watering contest
Expat Kiwi
As a Kiwi living in Australia, I am enjoying stirring them that NZ is a good show to secure three world championships this year and they are not in the running to achieve the same feat. No.1 is the cricket world cup and our form in the recent series in NZ must have them a little nervous even if they will never admit it. Their Americas Cup boat was last seen sinking to the bottom in San Diego and is a no show in Europe. And heaven forbid if Australia were to pull one out of the bag to take the rugby world cup when it is clearly NZ's to lose. Must go now as I am off to Centrebet to see what the odds are for a NZ trifecta!
David
s a Kiwi living in Oz, this summer of cricket has been a great one - after years of taking stick from our cousins over here I have enjoyed doing the "fat man dance" in their faces as their beloved "baggy green" team fell at major hurdles...losing to the Boks in the finals of their own one day competition and then being thoroughly blackwashed by the Black Caps in the Hadlee-Chappell series. Every commenter over here (both journo, taxi and bar type) rate NZ's chances. And every time the Aussie team beats a team at the (Super 8s) world cup the NZ team does the same, just as comprehensively. So I am enjoying every moment...the Kiwis should make the semis, their world ranking demands it, after that if they go on to do better, then it will be a joyous bonus. But above all - I just want them to beat the Aussies, even better beat them and knock them out of the world cup - I wouldnt care where the Kiwis finished after that...if that happens, well watch the media bloodbath over here. But remember one thing, their cricket team is like our All Blacks - they are so good so often, it is not just about winning - it is the fear of losing.
Shea Baker
I think New Zealand will do well in a world cup semi if we meet the Sri Lankains. Australia are looking too dominant at the moment. Even though we beat them 3 nil at home, we cant forget that Aussie had out, Ponting,Gilly,Hayden was useless ( now hes back), Clarke. All big name players who were very much needed. South Africa I also believe is our boogy team who somehow always manage to shaft us in the end. So I think Sri Lanka to be the best chance to make the final. Good luck to our boys.
Simon Stewart
Funny question considering we are not yet there and its still 3 weeks before the semis start. Obviously the key will be who we play and the preferred opponent if we are to make the semis. My hope is we clean South Africa and Sri Lanka up in the super 8s and then have the option to experiment against Australia knowing that win or lose we will not meet them in the semis.I would love to play South Africa in the semi as their attack seems a shade predictable and would not cause too much drama's against our batting line up. Semis hopefully to be: NZ V SA and AU V SL. I just hope we havent peaked too soon!
Andrew Kellett
They are not in the semi-finals yet.
Brad
We will get to the semi-final by winning at least one of the remaining matches against the other 3 likely semi-finalists - Aus, SA or Sri Lanka. And if we do, we can go into the Semi with some real hope and confidence that we do "belong" there. Hopefully we will win all 3, but to show we are true contenders, we need to beat the best - not the "also rans" we have played so far.
Vinayak
The black caps are going far this time, and are bringing the cup home, no doubt about it. There are some really big challenges ahead like Sri Lanka, South Africa and the Ozzies, but we will definitely pull through, and in a months time, we are going to have one cup down and just 3 to go.
Daniel
If Fleming continues to lead from the front it is the best opportunity that New Zealand have of winning the world cup. Fleming seems to be very analytical but for the first time seems to be becoming incredibly positive and confident more like say a Ricky Ponting. This has happened because he has been able to sit back while his team around him have become confident. Australia are going to be the team to beat and New Zealand are one team who could beat them.Fleming has always been smarter than Ricky Ponting add genuine confidence and self belief and something very special could occur. What a start to this huge sporting year that would be. Go New Zealand!
Sunil
One of the finest and most shrewd captains in history of cricket. Had fought against all odds (his form, injuries of team members and adverse publicity of media) and came out strongly to be a worthwhile contender of World cup. Australians Be Aware. NZ is the threat now to your so called "The undisputed Champions"
Cam
We expect too much, yet this team could achieve World Cup glory; Injury free we have a shout, yet let's not forget that the obvious other three semi finalists are getting more practice than our middle order; Next we play the spirited Irish, and for the sake of our further advancment I hope we are engaged in a 50 over contest. Forget England, as that's why our great, great-grannies moved to NZ. Yet beware those Lankins. Pesky, chuckers.
Jon Taylor
They will choke at some stage, without Mills we have no chance; yet another semi-final berth then. I remember 1991 on the terraces at Eden Park when the Paki's bush-whacked us. History is repeating herself. Good luck to them anyhow, I hope I am wrong. Here a year, there a year, every where a year yeah. 1 9 9 2. opps.
Andy
I predict that the semi's will be: Sri Lanka vs SA, NZ vs AUS. NZ will lose the semis as the Aussies are a better team.
