It was pleasure watching Brendon McCullum in his farewell Test Match, not an inch below his benchmark, thrashing Australian bowlers to all parts of the ground setting a new record for the fastest Test century. Such has been his influence on his team that he led them straight to the final of 2015 World Cup.

Though they lost to Australia, the world saw an all new New Zealand team rise up, whose fighting spirit was acknowledged by the world.

After Test series loss to Australia last month, Coach Mike Hesson is trying boost their morale before they arrive here to start their World Cup campaign. The team under the captaincy of Kane Williamson who averages 36.69 with the bat and scored most runs for his team in 2014, looks as strong as ever. Opener Martin Guptill is in the form of his life and can propel the team score at the start. The middle order looks well in presence of Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls.

Wicketkeeper batsman Ronchi is one who has shown lots of valuable performances with the bat but has not done so consistently. His form would be the key to runs in the death overs.

Corey Anderson makes a good all-rounder and is another player capable of making quick runs, with a strike rate of over 144. Anderson can be fruitful with his knack of picking up odd wicket during the middle overs with his accurate medium pacers. Grant Elliott is recognized as a master of both batting and bowling, but it is with the ball where he has impressed more recently. Already this year he has fine performances of 4-22 and 3-7 against Sri Lanka and Pakistan on his name.

The pace attack duo of Tim Southee and Trend Boult has evolved New Zealand into a dangerous bowling line up, capable of tearing apart the batting of top teams. The middle overs will require the experience of Nathan McCullum and rookie Mitchell Santner to extract spin from the subcontinental pitches. Another young face Ish Sodhi can be impressive with his leg breaks, though their spin department does not look as strong as their pace bowling.

New Zealand have made it to the crucial last rounds every now and then, looking good to win tournaments, but have failed to go that far. This time too they are strong team and would look forward to achieve what they have been longing.