New Zealand walk into its first knockout game of the tournament wearing a settled look, the only doubt being whether Adam Milne, the fast bowler, would recover from a shoulder injury soon enough to reclaim his place, currently being filled by Mitchell McClenaghan.New Zealand has looked vulnerable when McCullum has been dismissed early, and there is an element of risk to its all-out aggressive approach with the ball. When there has been swing – and it’s hard to recall a New Zealand game where there has been absolutely nothing for the quick bowlers – McCullum attacks from start to finish. What this means is that a team who can weather the initial storm could capitalise later on, at least in theory, but no opponent has really managed to put this into practice yet.
West Indies, who lost to Ireland in their first game and who scraped into the knockouts when it seemed the world had written them off. West Indies, without Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard and who lost their No 3 two games into the tournament. West Indies, creaking from administrative instability and with a captain hardly a couple years into international cricket. West Indies, so often on the tipping point of falling into an abyss. West Indies, who true cricket fans will always want to do well for the good of the game.A lot of will depend on the way West Indies' medium-pacers perform.
New Zealand have McCullum, Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson for a formidable top order, but Ross Taylor has struggled and Grant Elliott is in need of a sizeable score. Luke Ronchi has hardly batted in the World Cup. The middle order is where West Indies should really target should New Zealand's top three fail. They have two good pace bowlers in Jason Holder and Jerome Taylor, but the lack of firepower after that is a concern. Darren Sammy has been given five overs in six matches, Andre Russell, with nine wickets is the only other bowler who looks like picking up wickets. Sulieman Benn's left-arm spin has produced two wickets in two matches and Kemar Roach, once the leader of the attack, has managed one wicket in three games. Marlon Samuels' whippish brand of spin has also not been a success on generally unresponsive surfaces.
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West Indies, who lost to Ireland in their first game and who scraped into the knockouts when it seemed the world had written them off. West Indies, without Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard and who lost their No 3 two games into the tournament. West Indies, creaking from administrative instability and with a captain hardly a couple years into international cricket. West Indies, so often on the tipping point of falling into an abyss. West Indies, who true cricket fans will always want to do well for the good of the game.A lot of will depend on the way West Indies' medium-pacers perform.
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New Zealand have McCullum, Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson for a formidable top order, but Ross Taylor has struggled and Grant Elliott is in need of a sizeable score. Luke Ronchi has hardly batted in the World Cup. The middle order is where West Indies should really target should New Zealand's top three fail. They have two good pace bowlers in Jason Holder and Jerome Taylor, but the lack of firepower after that is a concern. Darren Sammy has been given five overs in six matches, Andre Russell, with nine wickets is the only other bowler who looks like picking up wickets. Sulieman Benn's left-arm spin has produced two wickets in two matches and Kemar Roach, once the leader of the attack, has managed one wicket in three games. Marlon Samuels' whippish brand of spin has also not been a success on generally unresponsive surfaces.
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