New Zealand Have All the Tools Required for World Cup Success

New Zealand will be expected to win the World Cup in 2015. The rugby version, that is.

While the All Blacks head to Europe later in the year to defend the William Webb Ellis trophy they lifted in their back yard four years ago, their cricketing counterparts are preparing to enjoy home advantage in a major competition.

While they have been semi-finalists at the last two editions of the tournament, New Zealand have always been viewed as plucky underdogs, a team capable of punching above their weight yet not quite having enough to go all the way.

This time around, though, they find themselves among the favourites to triumph.

It helps their cause that, along with fellow hosts Australia, they have the added bonus of playing in front of their own fans.

The last time a World Cup was jointly staged by the two trans-Tasman nations, back in 1992, New Zealand managed to spring a surprise by reaching the last four.

They did so thanks to some rather radical thinking at the time. Opening batsman Mark Greatbatch was asked to get the innings off to a flying start, while they gambled on opening the bowling with spinner Dipak Patel.

It all worked so well, as they finished the group stages on top of the table. They were dominant for much of their semi-final against Pakistan, too, only to be stunned by a late onslaught by a young Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Such tactics would not be such a surprise now; taking the attack to the bowlers in the opening overs has become the norm in the modern game, not the exception.

Perhaps, though, New Zealand do not need to think outside the box to have success.

Their recent form shows they are a side to be reckoned with. In 2014, they won nine of their 16 completed one-day matches, including beating reigning world champions India 4-0.

They also secured a 3-2 series triumph over Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, a result that was made even more impressive by the fact that their regular captain, Brendon McCullum, did not feature.

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Kane Williamson proved an able deputy as skipper against Pakistan. He enjoyed a stellar 2014 and is now ranked in the top 10 of the ICC rankings in both Test and ODI cricket. His form does not seem to be disappearing into the new year, either—he made 103 against Sri Lanka on Jan. 20.

McCullum is full of praise for his right-hand man, admitting after the recent Test series against Sri Lanka that Williamson, per ESPN Cricinfo, has the potential to go down as the best ever Kiwi batsman.

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It's hard to put this on his shoulders while the guy is so young, but I firmly believe Kane could go down as New Zealand's greatest ever batter.

He’s a phenomenal talent and such a level-headed guy, who just thinks first and foremost about the team and how he can contribute.

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McCullum may be overlooking himself with that statement, and for now he is still the main man in an ODI batting lineup that looks to have both firepower up front and strength in depth.

There may still be some debate about who will open the innings with the skipper; Martin Guptill is the preferred choice right now, but Tom Latham is another option for team management to consider.

Luke Ronchi was previously tried at the top of the order, but he is now settled at seven. The wicketkeeper-batsman averages over 50 in the role, with that number helped hugely by his record-breaking 170 not out against Sri Lanka recently.

His stunning 99-ball knock on Jan. 23 saw him share in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 267 with Grant Elliott, a surprise choice in the final 15-man World Cup squad who continued to justify the selectors’ faith with a century and two wickets.

Corey Anderson may have failed in that match in Dunedin, but it should not be forgotten that until very recently he held the record for the fastest century in ODI action.

Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum lengthen the lineup further, though the Black Caps may not often pick both of their frontline spin bowlers in the same XI.

Whether both are chosen or not, New Zealand will still field a well-balanced attack.

Seam duo Trent Boult and Tim Southee are both now ranked in the top 10 in Test action, while one-day specialist Mitchell McClenaghan currently has the third-best strike rate in the history of the 50-over game.

All-rounders Elliott and Anderson add further seam options, plus Williamson has been cleared to bowl his off-spin again after undergoing remedial work on his action.

When you add in that they will play all their group games on their own turf—including against neighbours Australia on Feb. 28—the case for a home winner of the cup not named Australia gets even stronger.

In the last eight they could have to travel, but there is a carrot dangling of a potential semi-final in Auckland. That would mean another knockout clash at Eden Park, just as Martin Crowe’s side experienced 23 years ago.

Getting that far is the least Brendon McCullum’s squad of 2015 should be capable of, provided they can cope with the added burden of expectation they now have on their shoulders.