Cricket World Cup 2015: Why New Zealand are a genuine chance of winning tournament

THE New Zealanders are NOT dark horses at this World Cup - they’re a genuine chance of winning the whole thing. Here’s five reasons why.

Look away now: why NZ can win World Cup

THE New Zealanders are NOT dark horses at this World Cup - they’re a genuine chance.

Installed as third favourites ($6.00) behind only co-host Australia ($3.00) and South Africa ($4.00), the Black Caps are beautifully positioned to claim their first ever World Cup.

Here are five reasons why.

A BETTER DRAW THAN THEIR CO-HOSTS

Australia and New Zealand are co-hosts of the 2015 World Cup - but the Blacks Caps have got the better deal in terms of scheduling.

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THE PEOPLE’S WORLD CUP XI: THE BOWLERS

New Zealand are peaking at the right time.

New Zealand play every one of their group matches at home whereas the Aussies must fly to Auckland to play them on February 18 before making the arduous eight-hour journey - and the five hour time difference - to Perth to play Afghanistan five days later.

New Zealand play Sri Lanka in Christchurch (February 14), Scotland in Dunedin (February 17), England in Wellington (February 28), Australia in Auckland (February 28), Afghanistan in Napier (March 8) and Bangladesh in Hamilton (March 13).

There is also the possibility they could play a quarter-final in Wellington and/or a semi-final in Auckland depending on where they finish in the group phase.

THEY’VE HIT FORM AT THE PERFECT TIME

New Zealand have won six of their eight ODIs in 2015 thus far.

The Blacks Caps rolled to a 4-1 series victory against Sri Lanka at home and capped off their World Cup preparations with a 2-0 series win over Pakistan.

The Kiwis have come a long way since 2013, when they won eight and lost ten ODIs including a 3-0 series trouncing by Bangladesh.

New Zealand bounced back strongly last year with nine wins, five losses and a tie which featured series victories against all opponents bar South Africa.

The Black Caps’ team batting average has risen from 29.14 in 2013 to 37.69 in 2014 to 42.14 this year.

THEIR BATTING IS RIDICULOUS

According to the New Zealand Herald, the Black Caps are poised to obliterate a number of batting records in 2015.

Their all-time record for most centuries in a calendar year is seven, which was achieved in 2014, 2011 and 2007.

They have already belted six tons in the first month of 2015 - Kane Williamson (twice), Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Luke Ronchi and Brendon McCullum - as well as two 90s.

In addition, New Zealand’s collective strike-rate for 2015 stands at an eye-popping 95.47. That compares favourably with their team strike-rate the last time they hosted the World Cup (73.10).

New Zealand have two batsmen in the top ten of the ICC’s official ODI rankings - Williamson (sixth) and Taylor (eighth). Australia have none.

AND THEIR BOWLING ISN’T BAD, EITHER

In Trent Boult and Tim Southee, the Kiwis have arguably the most underrated pace attack in the world.

Boult is a genuine matchwinner, able to move the ball both ways off the pitch and in the air. He comes into tournament in top form, having taken eight wickets at an average of 16.88 in his last four matches.

Trent Boult is the leader of an impressive Kiwi pace attack.

He has quality back-up in the form of Tim Southee, who at just 26 is the veteran of the pace cartel, and left-armer Mitchell McClenaghan.

Then there’s Dan Vettori, who began his career way back in 1997 and is likely to call it a day after a World Cup on home soil.

The left-arm orthodox spinner has the fourth-best economy rate of all spinners to have played at the World Cup, conceding just 4.18 runs per over across 23 games.

THEY LOVE WORLD CUPS

Few teams have displayed the consistency of New Zealand at the World Cup.

The Black Caps have reached six semi-finals from ten tournaments and boast a record of 40 wins, 29 losses (including a forfeit against Kenya in 2003) and a no result.

One of those semi-finals came in 1992 - the last time New Zealand co-hosted the World Cup with Australia.

Grant Elliott (R) and Ross Taylor (L) are hoping to guide New Zealand to World Cup glory.

That tournament will forever be remembered for New Zealand’s ambush of Australia in the first game at Eden Park, during which Martin Crowe’s unbeaten century, Gavin Larsen’s three-wickets and the unorthodox move of opening the bowling with spinner Dipak Patel conspired to propel the Black Caps to a memorable 37-run victory.

New Zealand have won two and lost six games against Australia in World Cup competition.

Originally published as Cricket World Cup 2015: Why New Zealand are a genuine chance of winning tournament