I was fortunate enough to play in three World Cups, yet I think the current Black Caps squad would easily dispose of any of those World Cup teams I played in. Photo / Getty Images
I was fortunate enough to play in three World Cups, yet I think the current Black Caps squad would easily dispose of any of those World Cup teams I played in. Photo / Getty Images
I was fortunate enough to play in three World Cups, including two semifinals, yet I think the current Black Caps squad would easily dispose of any of those World Cup teams I played in.
They have a wealth of athleticism, an abundance of batting power, genuine pace in their seam-bowlingranks and smart and experienced spinners. On top of all that, they have an evenly-balanced roster, typical New Zealand fighting characteristics and confidence that is snowballing.
Using statistics from the past 12 months simply highlights the depth, quality and momentum in the Black Caps. Four batsmen are averaging over 50; five average more than 30, while also having a strike rate of 80 and above; five different batsmen have scored centuries; six bowlers have an average of 32 or less and four bowlers have an economy rate of five or less.
Looking at the best of the rest, a couple of teams immediately come to mind. South Africa have the pace and power to go all the way and, with AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn leading the charge, have every reason to feel this tournament is where they can finally shed that much-maligned chokers tag.
As the No1-ranked ODI team in the world, Australia will be confident and primed to go a long way. They will be playing all their games (barring the pool game against the Black Caps) on home soil and have match winners such as David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson and Mitch Starc up and down their lineup.
The form of defending champions and current No2 India is modest, yet they have the individuals - Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli - who could potentially turn things around.
A couple of teams who aren't getting a lot of attention but could still tip over their more-fancied opponents are England and Sri Lanka. There are upsets and surprises at every tournament and those two sides have the potential to fly under the radar.
From a New Zealand perspective, though, let's hope the form book isn't rewritten tomorrow when the Black Caps kick off the 2015 World Cup against Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval. It's the same team who ejected them from the past two World Cups at the semifinal stage.
This time things are very different, though. Not only will the Black Caps play on familiar home grounds, they will have the support of avid home crowds. It's been 1419 days and 63 ODIs since we trudged off R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo following our five-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup. The waiting is nearly over.
