The Black Caps are a very fine one-day side but just getting out of the group stage will be a decent achievement.
They have been drawn in group A with the home nation and pre-tournament favourite England, two-time champion Australia, and Bangladesh, which beat the Blacks Caps just last week. It is a daunting assignment and more than one loss will probably result in a premature exit.
Batting power
When Martin Guptill gets going, no total is out of reach for the Black Caps. He warmed up with an unbeaten hundred against Sri Lanka yesterday, so he is in good form. But Kane Williamson and the experienced Ross Taylor also shape as key batsmen.
It will be their role to stitch the innings together if there is an early hiccup. The rest of the line-up will fit in around them and get to swing for the ropes. Should be fun.
Swing
Remember Trent Boult bowling with four slips and a gully during the World Cup a couple of years ago? It was wonderful to watch.
Williamson might be less inclined to put so many fielders behind the wicket. But if Boult can get the ball to move around again, and keep his pace up, then that will help the cause enormously.
The conditions will suit Tim Southee, as well. Let's just hope he is not required to bat too often.
Fielding
The Black Caps have prided themselves on their ability in the field. Why stand and watch when you can join the other four or five players chasing the ball? And every other week there was some clip going viral of a Kiwi defying gravity on the boundary during the IPL.
But the effort in the warm-up games was less energetic. The players who joined the squad late will be keen to lift the intensity.
