• Daniel Vettori's economy rate in 33 innings against them is 4.08 (4.30 in the last series) compared with his career rate of 4.13. His arm ball can confuse Mahela Jayawardene.
Weaknesses and threats
• Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan; bowling line-ups find this trio the proverbial riddle, mystery and enigma in their search for a mode of dismissal. Captain Angelo Mathews can also rely on their leadership wisdom.
• Don't be fooled by the innocuous run-ups of Sachithra Senanayake and Rangana Herath. Their hands are often the bowling equivalent of a GPS, freezing batsmen on the crease.
• How can you best adapt to Malinga's slinging deliveries, particularly the yorkers, and smear them to the boundary at the death? Fleet footwork and an early eye for length will be mandatory.
Australia
Strengths and opportunities
• Yes, there are world T20 leagues and archives of video analysis but Australia have seen little of Kane Williamson, Corey Anderson, Adam Milne or Mitchell McClenaghan in actual contests.
• New Zealand's controlled aggression could trump Australia's penchant for verbal sparring. Good luck getting into Williamson's head. Australia's camaraderie is vulnerable if their leadership debate is a gauge; it'll be under further scrutiny if they're losing.
• New Zealand will be subject to boundless goodwill from the crowd, some of whom will remember the talismanic nature of the 1992 Eden Park encounter on the tournament; an intangible asset.
Weaknesses and threats
• Unfamiliarity: New Zealand last completed an ODI against them at Nagpur during the 2011 World Cup.
• If Australia get away to a big start on a little ground with bat or ball, their confidence will be unleashed. Initiative is paramount. Weapons like David Warner, Aaron Finch, Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson must be neutralised early.
• Michael Clarke could be fit for this. New Zealand must be ready to counter a batsman whose determination levels will be tipping into the red after his controversial international hiatus.
England
Strengths and opportunities
• Put pressure on Eoin Morgan as the new captain. He's still adjusting to the role as a late replacement for Alastair Cook; wreaking havoc with his tactics and field placements might rattle.
• England don't have a dominant batsman in the vein of Kevin Pietersen. With the exception of Ian Bell, no specialist averaged over 37 or had a strike rate over 83 in the triangular series against Australia and India.
• James Anderson and Steven Finn put together sound bowling performances in the tri-series but elsewhere their attack lacked venom and variety with no left-armers in the mix.
Weaknesses and threats
• Ian Bell averages 41.71 in 71 ODIs as an opener compared to 33.57 elsewhere during a 155-match career. Made his highest ODI score of 141 opening in Hobart last month against Australia.
• Face a mental barrier of dominating England during the last ODI series away with victories at Lord's and Southampton, but lost in Nottingham and couldn't chase 170 in 24 overs in Cardiff.
• Wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler's tennis-squash-baseball hybrid innings of 47 off 16 balls to set a total and beat New Zealand in Nottingham won him man-of-the-match. He helped pile on 76 runs in the last four overs.
