Van Royen says . . .
Enough of these semifinal exits.
The Black Caps are finally poised to not just go one step further, but all the way.
There is no doubt the team is playing its best cricket in a long time, and goes into the World Cup with plenty of confidence. A comprehensive 4-2 series win over Sri Lanka and two big wins over Pakistan will do that.
The fact the Black Caps could play every game at home except the final, which will be played at the MCG, only boosts the team's chances.
South Africa and Australia are the two other names on the tips of everyone's tongues heading into the tournament but the New Zealanders have been playing as well as if not better than any other team in the world recently.
Yes, the Black Caps flogged a Sri Lankan side lacking spearhead Lasith Malinga, and a Pakistan team that hardly put up a fight.
But the manner in which New Zealand has played is encouraging, to say the least.
Batting collapses seem to have become a thing of the past. Now, when early wickets fall, the middle and lower order is there to get the team out of a hole.
The batting line-up features match-winners in captain Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson.
Martin Guptill is finally starting to show the nation why coach Mike Hesson has persisted with him. Grant Elliott brings guts to the middle order. And Corey Anderson and Luke Ronchi can bludgeon the ball out of the park at the death.
The bowling attack is not too shabby, either.
Led by Tim Southee, the squad includes a bunch of seamers that are bound to give Hesson selection headaches.
Left-armers Trent Boult and Mitchell McClenaghan will most likely be rotated throughout the tournament.
Adam Milne gives the Kiwis something they have missed since Shane Bond retired - pace. He can consistently hit 150kmh and has the potential to have a break-out tournament.
Kyle Mills was perhaps fortunate to make the team ahead of Canterbury's Matt Henry, but does have a habit of picking up wickets.
Spinner Daniel Vettori is healthy and has an uncanny ability to tie down teams with his subtle variety of pace.
The pressure will be on all-rounders Elliott and Anderson to perform with the ball, something that will be a lot harder against strong batting line-ups such as Australia's or South Africa's. However, this side has finally learnt how to win consistently and has a squad capable of producing the goods.
Seconi says . . .
Call me Judas but there is one very good reason - and two words - why the Black Caps will not win the World Cup.
South. Africa.
And unfortunately, following some wild calculations, a guesstimation or two and a consultation with a clairvoyant, the two sides appear destined to meet in the semifinal. Oh well.
That said, the Black Caps are playing some marvellous cricket and are arguably our most complete side since the mid-1980s. Hell, they might even be better.
But there are some chinks in the armour and perhaps the most significant crack is at the top of the order.
Opener Martin ''dot ball'' Guptill has not exactly been convincing. The last time he found a gap in the field - and a hundred against Zimbabwe in a warm-up does not count - Betty White was still in her prime.
His partner, Brendon McCullum, can bat however he likes given the past 12 months he has had. Who are we to say otherwise but am I the only observer who is concerned by his all-out attack? If he would just dial it back a touch, the Black Caps might not find themselves two or three down early on so often.
Ideally, McCullum would be batting at No5 and Jesse Ryder would be opening alongside Guptill. That would be a top five that would rival any other at the tournament.
Backup top-order batsman Tom Latham is a marginal inclusion in the squad, at best. He has done well at test level but his one-day record does not inspire confidence.
Still, New Zealand has managed to cast off some poor starts. The Black Caps were five for 93 against Sri Lanka in Dunedin and went on to post a whopping 360.
But against a more accomplished attack, like the one South Africa boasts, would you back the Black Caps to wriggle out of a hole like that?Perhaps this team is different. Kane Williamson appears on the cusp of greatness. If he has the sort of tournament Martin Crowe did in 1992, he could carry the team to glory.
He will have good support from a quality bowling unit. There is stiff competition around who will partner seamer Tim Southee. Trent Boult has staked his claim with some polished performances and Adam Milne offers raw pace, while spinners Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum will probably play musical chairs throughout the tournament.
But if all-rounder Corey Anderson is called on to bowl a 10-over allotment, you can bet the opposition will be targeting his spell. Grant Elliott can expect similar harsh treatment.
