Adam Parore: Black Caps look capable of giving the Aussies a real fright

I have no doubt that New Zealand are now the only team left in the World Cup that the Australians fear.

But for Stephen Fleming and his team the biggest challenge is ensuring they get enough points from their Super Six games to make the semifinals and then the final.

Without question I feel New Zealand are the only side of the four left in the cup - I don't see Kenya or Zimbabwe figuring much more - capable of beating Ricky Ponting's Australians.

Pakistan and South Africa were probably two teams that the Black Caps might have had concerns about, but they are no longer there.

I'm sure Sri Lanka and India, on the other hand, are teams Fleming and his team will be happy to play in the latter rounds.

But before we can look that far ahead, we have to look at tonight's game against Zimbabwe.

The key component will again be the batting. This is an important game in terms of the points New Zealand must pick up and there must, again, be concerns about the impact that missing out on that game against Kenya might have.

It was valuable batting practice missed. It was not such a concern for the bowlers.

We needed to give the big guns, Nathan Astle, Fleming, Craig McMillan and Chris Cairns, more batting time.

In the remaining matches, it is vital we get a good start. I'm sure the management will move heaven and earth to get Astle out there, even if they have to put him in a wheelchair.

I would leave McMillan at the top of the order for the rest of the tournament. The Zimbabwe attack will not hold any fears for him. He is worth persevering with for sure.

With him at the top of the order and Astle at No 3, it means there is still good depth in the middle and lower order, although those lower down have not had the batting they would have liked, given the way the matches have gone.

Scoring 250 should not be a worry and that should be enough.

I don't get too concerned whether we bat or bowl first. I don't think it matters.

As a general rule unless conditions change markedly - and they don't appear to have done so - it does not make too much difference when you bat, especially in day games.

The pitches seldom get slower over eight hours. There is more of a change in the condition of the ball, which does get older and softer. Still, I would be happy if New Zealand bats first, gets the runs and then watches the other side blow up.

I'm pleased to see reserve days are now in place. It is sensible to continue a match on to a second day if weather intervenes. Then you are basically guaranteed to get a result.

I feel we have to pick players capable of bowling teams out.

You have to get wickets early and keep going. You are not going to contain the top batsmen. They don't think that way.

They go out to bat intent on scoring 100 in 30 to 40 overs. They would rather get out than be contained. I guess it is for this reason players like Mark Richardson and Mathew Sinclair struggle to get into the New Zealand team these days.

The best players will not allow bowlers to dictate.

This is why, I feel, Fleming has been reluctant to use part-timers like McMillan, Astle and even Chris Harris to sneak in a few overs through the middle of the innings.

The Sri Lankans tried that during their match with South Africa and it backfired.

All it did was allow Mark Boucher to play himself in. Then, when he had to pick it up, he was ready to fire.

Unfortunately for him and South Africa, the rain then ended it.

I have been impressed with how well Brendon McCullum has kept wickets. He has improved greatly even in the past few months.

Certainly he is the best keeper in the country by miles. His footwork is sharp.

I think he will turn out to be a very good wicketkeeper, even in tests, and I would certainly take him to Sri Lanka when we tour there in April-May.

Forget about his batting, as an outright wicketkeeper, he strikes me as a top gloveman.

New Zealand is the hardest place in the world in which to keep wickets, but he is doing well.

His batting should be seen as a bonus. He, like others in the middle and lower order, are all capable of contributing. Hopefully that will, if needed, lead to a victory tonight.