1. It's just one more game. Anything can happen in cricket and the win against India was far from the first time the Black Caps have won against more favoured opposition. A few stunning pieces of cricket - such as Martin Guptill's run-out or Jimmy Neesham's catch - can turn the match in the Black Caps' favour.
2. The Black Caps are fighters. The players have fought poor form, poor pitches and come back from poor positions to still be standing at the back end of the competition. Other teams may have looked more accomplished but winning the crucial moments is all that matters in tournament cricket. So far the Black Caps have won enough of those moments and they can do it again in the team's most important match since the 2015 World Cup final.
3. We are still the underdogs. England will not take Black Caps lightly in the final, but as massive favourites will go in with heavier expectations. For England, success at this World Cup means winning the whole tournament. That means pressure.
4. Captain Kane Williamson's mantra at this World Cup has been adapting to the conditions. The ability to adapt has been an absolute necessity at this World Cup as pitch conditions confound expectations. Pitches which have looked like roads have turned out to be slow and two-paced. The ability to adapt could win us the World Cup.
5. As much as the Black Caps have shown an ability to adapt to conditions England have been the opposite. When the wicket has been spicy they have not been as able to adapt. The pitch in Manchester showed even in the late stage of the tournament a flat track is not guaranteed. A spicy deck and a few early wickets and the Black Caps will go from outsiders to favourites.
6. A lot of air time has been dedicated to the lack of back-up for Kane Williamson in the Black Caps batting line-up, but our bowlers have been more than making up for our shortcomings with the bat. It would be nice if Guptill stepped up in the final, but the Black Caps showed against India the bowlers can win it after relying on Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor to put up a competitive total.
Matt Henry and Trent Boult can get out the best batsmen in the world cheaply, Lockie Ferguson can take wickets in the middle and Mitchell Santner can contain and force players into stupid shots. To top it off, Neesham is bowling better than he ever has for the Black Caps, meaning our fifth bowler has not proven as much of a weakness as it appeared leading into the tournament.
7. The core of the Black Caps squad have already faced the unique pressure of playing in a World Cup final. The last time England made a final was in 1992 when many of their current players were not even alive. Being able to call on the memories of 2015 will give the Black Caps the mental fortitude to make history.
