Cricket World Cup: Three key questions

Ross Taylor of New Zealand awaits the TV umpire decision. Photo / Getty Images.

Herald cricket experts Andrew Alderson and Kris Shannon answer three key questions following the Black Caps win over Bangladesh last night.

1. The Black Caps have made it through pool play unbeaten. How far can they go in the knock-out stages?

Andrew Alderson: They can win the tournament. Swing bowling looks like the key to triumph and New Zealand is blessed in this facet, backed up by Daniel Vettori's parsimony. Most of the top eight sides have batsmen who can dominate but moving the ball is a rarer commodity.

Kris Shannon: The whole way. Their performances during pool play have only ramped up the expectations surrounding Mike Hesson's side but, similarly, their performances have suggested the expectations can be met. There appears to be four teams with a genuine chance of winning the tournament and, if results proceed as planned, a semifinal against South Africa awaits. While a combination of AB de Villiers and Eden Park's straight boundaries sends a few shivers down the spine, the balance in the Black Caps' XI gives them every chance of booking a date at the MCG.

2. Ross Taylor had an interesting night. He scratched around for 50-odd, used up a skip load of balls in the process, and reviewed a dead-cert decision while walking off the field. What's up with him?

Andrew Alderson: The review was poor and he looked like he regretted it upon exiting. However, there wasn't much wrong with his innings. Sure, using 97 balls for 56 was a sizable number of resources, but who else was going to get the runs after Williamson and McCullum had gone? Taylor's ability to consolidate in the 131-run third wicket partnership with Guptill saved the New Zealand cause.

Kris Shannon: An innings of real quality, it was not. But it was an important innings in the context of the match and could eventually prove likewise in the grand scheme of the tournament. The time Taylor spent in the middle provided the match-winning partnership and provided him a chance to find form ahead of the knockout stages. That search was hardly completed during the scratchy knock but every ball he faced would have incrementally increased his chances of getting back near his best in the quarter-finals. The less said about the review, the better.

3. Will other sides follow Bangladesh's lead by using spin to combat Brendon McCullum at the top of the order?

Andrew Alderson: They'd be wise to consider it. McCullum relishes the ball coming on at pace, it appeals to his gladiatorial instincts and he's got the eye to adjust. Slow the deliveries down and he still wants to go after the bowling but can't manufacture the same tempo, unless the bowler loses his nerve and drops short.

Kris Shannon: Other sides might not be as bold to open with spin from both ends but it should certainly be kept as a back-up plan, at least. If McCullum, as is his wont, begins by shelling the paceman, a captain can do worse than turning to the tweakers to try stem the bleeding.