Cricket World Cup 2007 Preview: New Zealand

[This is the fourth in a series of collaborative articles assessing the merits and demerits of the teams competing for cricket's World Cup in March/April in the West Indies.]

Sibin Mohan

One of the most unpredictable teams in the cricketing world, New Zealand can beat any team on its day as was witnessed by the recent two ODIs against Australia. They are the only team that always looks capable of taking down the mighty Australians. Along with Pakistan, New Zealand, in my opinion, are the dark horses for any international competition. New Zealand has talent which is constantly underrated by the opposition. They're always a pleasant side to watch and are known for their wonderful sporting spirit in a game that is fast losing its "gentleman's game" tag.

Stephen Fleming, Jacob Oram, Lou Vincent, Ross Taylor, Shane Bond and Daniel Vettori all have the talent needed to help steer New Zealand to great heights and the skipper will have to find form for them to have a chance at winning the world cup. They will also have to shore up their bowling attack as giving away 300+ runs in a game (like the last one against Australia) will not do well for their World Cup efforts.

Prediction : Surprise semi-finalists.

Aditya Kuber

Individuals are said to have suffered a case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde occasionally, but with the Black Caps, the whole team appears to be suffering from the syndrome! They were far below average in Australia in the Commonwealth Bank series and based on that performance, not many would have fancied their chances of going beyond the Super Eight stage. But the last two matches have certainly turned things around and how!

First there was the outstanding 10-wicket win thanks to the opening pair and on Sunday (Feb 18), they did the almost-unthinkable. They chased down 337! From New Zealand's viewpoint, the form shown by Ross Taylor, Craig McMillan and Peter Fulton is commendable. In the process, they also toppled Australia from the top of the ICC ODI Rankings, but that’s just the cherry on top.

New Zealand, though, still have their bowling to worry about. Shane Bond will not fire on all occasions and they do seem to be a little lacking in the support bowling department. Craig McMillan will have more bad days than good because he is a part-timer. And Daryl Tuffey’s last-minute inclusion may well turn out to be a farce. He went for 80 runs in his 10 on Sunday. Fleming’s own form has been a bit up and down but so long as he chips in with the odd 40 and the rest of the batting holds up, things should be okay.

“A lot of work has been done behind the scenes,” said Fleming after the match on Sunday and it shows. After losing 7 of their 8 matches in the CB Series, this is an amazing turnaround. But there has been far too much volatility in the performances. And the World Cup does not afford such luxuries. The skill is there and the will is definitely there. But is the belief there? Perhaps not.

Prediction: Losing semi-finalists

Zainub Razvi

Ian Chappell once gave a comprehensive criterion for judging a one-day side. Six players make all the difference - two world class batsmen, one all rounder, one batting wicket keeper and two top notch bowlers. If you judge New Zealand under this principle, they have Bond and Vettori, whose pace, bounce, flight and variation make New Zealand's attack stand in good stead. Whether the back up bowlers in Tuffey, Franklin, Gillespie, Styriss and McMillan, can provide enough support though, is open to debate.

Nevertheless in wicket keeper McCullum, New Zealand do posses that talented glove man capable of scoring quick runs that every international side craves for. And in skipper Stephen Fleming they also have at least one of the two-world class batsmen that Chappell referred to. Which is why how far New Zealand progress in the World Cup may eventually come down to how consistently the likes of Vincent, Styriss and McMillan perform. These are all players that have been around for a while, but the pendulum of their performances has often swung back and forth between the sublime and ridiculous too often.

May be now that younger players like Fulton and Taylor are coming in to their own, the balance of the New Zealand side will improve. Over all, New Zealand certainly does have the confidence and momentum right now, but do they have the players? Something inside me says no. They're a disciplined side, with not many stars, which to their credit always tries to become more than the sum of its part. But in the later stages of the tournament, one of the more flamboyant sub-continental sides may just leave them behind.

Prediction: Marginally fails to qualify for the semis

Angshuman Hazra

If we think hard and jot the number of times New Zealanders have punched beyond their 'perceived' weight in recent years we will appreciate that they are better than their stature suggests. More importantly, that intrinsic worth has generally come to the fore at some of the biggest forums in one day cricket. They progressed to the 1999 World Cup semis literally unnoticed. Similarly their convincing victory over Pollock's South Africans in the 2003 edition took people by surprise.

Of late we notice two New Zealands turning up - one with Shane Bond in it and the other without him. Quite understandably the principal difference between the two is their bowling, with the first capable of causing shivers even in the World Champions' camp. Given the format for Super 8 though, cracking the semis looks like hard work. New Zealand have an outside chance of upsetting one of the favourites and making the semis if -
(i) Bond is backed up adequately by either the slower bowlers or one amongst Franklin / Oram / Tuffey;
(ii) The 'Bigger the event, Broader the bat' efforts of New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming inspires a few others in the wobbly top order; and
(iii) ICC rules in favour of 'pepping up' the slow n' dry Caribbean pitches.

Also, for Lou Vincent this is a good occasion to prove that his debut Test century at Perth 5 seasons back was no fluke. He can be the 'impact' batsman New Zealand desperately need.

Predictions: Likely to finish 5th in the Super 8

Huzaifa
In short,

Does Stephen Fleming deserve to win a World Cup?

Yes he does, but he probably never will. Life is unfair, and I'm sure he's figured that out by now.

Should the rival teams be scared of New Zealand?

Only if the team plays with black paint on their faces and does a Maori war dance before every over.

But Huzaifa, didn't you see the super-crazy-unbelievable-once-in-a-lifetime match against Australia?

Yes I'm aware of that, but Australia were playing without their star players while New Zealand had a full strength side, on home soil.

Yes, but the confidence this gives them will be fantastic. At least now everyone knows that Australia are beatable!

Yes genius, but did you ever realize that Australia now know this as well. Instead of having them go into the competition, overconfident and on top of the world, we'll now have a determined and humbled Australia all out to prove themselves, again.

Restored parity? I think it just became worse.

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Also Read Our Other Previews:
India
Pakistan
West Indies
South Africa
Sri Lanka
England
Zimbabwe
Bangladesh, Kenya
Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Bermuda, Netherlands