Three Cricket World Cup questions: Black Caps v Australia

Can Tim Southee get on top of the Australian batsmen? Photo / Mark Mitchell

Three questions ahead of New Zealand's crunch Cricket World Cup Pool A clash with Australia.

1. Tim Southee is very much middle of the pack when it comes to raw pace, so why has he been the pick of the pace bowlers so far this tournament?

Dylan Cleaver: Whether you're 135kp/h or 145kp/h, clipping the top of off pole with an outswinger delivered wide on the crease is tough to play. Southee knows what he is trying to do and has the skills to be able to do it. The friendly rivalry he's got going with his new-ball mate, Trent Boult, is not hurting either.

Andrew Alderson: Here are three hypotheses. He has, a) an impeccable wrist position from which to swing the ball, b) the wholehearted backing of a captain who believes in him and, c) the repertoire and maturity to know he can outwit most batsmen.

David Leggat: Southee is smart bowler, lively in pace but no more. He knows there are others around several clicks faster and doesn't try and over-extend himself looking for speed that isn't there. He operates a fullish length, gives the ball every chance to move and, in Wellington, found the right line and length against batsmen who had that rabbit in the headlights look. That is, Southee knows what works in New Zealand conditions, plus he's coming into his prime and has absorbed the developmental lessons of the last five years.

2. You're Josh Hazlewood, about to bowl to Brendon McCullum: where are you aiming and what are you trying to do?

Cleaver: For a start, I'm trying to get him out because you're not going to contain him for any length of time. You know McCullum is going to charge and he's going to give himself room when he does it, so I'm bowling full and angling it in to cramp him, bringing fine leg up and dropping square leg back. I'm hoping to either hit his leg pole or have him chip out to deep square.

Alderson:A couple each over have to be yorkers. In doing so you're looking for pre-meditated foot movement which could turn it into a full toss, whereby you might pitch up further hoping he gets it high on the bat and skies an in-field catch. Perhaps throw in a Shortland St-style sledge: "You're not in 135km/h territory now, Dr McCullum." Alternatively, opt for an ultra-slower ball in the hope he gets through his shot too quickly and toe-ends to short-cover or mid-off.

Leggat: The key has to be a bit of mix and match. Part of McCullum's success lies in getting ahead of the game. That is, the fast bowlers are playing catchup once they've been clouted a couple of times. Second guessing starts. So slower balls, the odd bouncer and there's still nothing better than a yorker or three, if Hazlewood's up to it. Also he must hold his nerve if the slugger puts him into the crowd a couple of times early. One other thing: a prayer or two wouldn't hurt.

3. Just to shift the emphasis, can we take it as read that India are the best on show in Pool B?

Cleaver: They're playing the hot hand at the moment but I'm still a doubter. What they did against South Africa is pretty much what they have to do against all the genuine contenders: score 300+ and hope their bowlers can do a job. So far they've stuck perfectly to the blueprint, but things might get a bit trickier when they're asked to chase 300+ under lights.

Alderson: Yes, their batsmen have lived up to expectation and their pace bowlers have exceeded them. Totals of 300 and 307 batting first against arguably the toughest opposition in the pool mean they've made a formidable start to their title defence.

Leggat:

No question. They put two of their three top tier opponents on their backsides with rampant batting performances pluls surprisingly good seam and spin. They must have entered cup final calculations, although there's plenty of time for things to go amiss before that.