Cricket: Young guns well able to trigger past NZ glories

With the 2015 World Cup less than 15 months away, the onus goes on five players to prove they can match the 50-over standards set by 1992's 'Young Guns'.

New Zealand Cricket has used 22 players in one-day internationals over the past 12 matches, dating back to the opening game of the England series on May 31. The matrices of different selections have produced four wins and six losses with two rained off.

Injury, conditions, selection whims and the unusual sending home of Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum for 'red ball practice' mean the same team has taken the field just twice in those matches (versus Sri Lanka and Australia at the Champions Trophy).

However, the names Corey Anderson, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Colin Munro and Jimmy Neesham beam off the team sheets as capable of assuming the mantle of their forebears. Each has shown a capacity to deal with pressure; now it's about doing it consistently after what, in whole, has been another disappointing New Zealand tour of the sub-continent.

All five have emerged since the country was ousted in the semifinals of the 2011 World Cup by Sri Lanka.

Each could form a vital component in New Zealand's next campaign with the likes of Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Tim Southee and Brendon McCullum - if the captain's fitness holds.

Of the quintet, McClenaghan has made the biggest strides. He's susceptible to injury but has tempered patience with aggression as New Zealand's bowler with a licence to unleash.

When he was injured during the home series against England, McCullum said he was "gutted because he's been a revelation for us ... and allowed us to attack in areas where we haven't had that luxury in recent times".

To put his record in context, McClenaghan has 35 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 20.08 and strike rate of 21.2. Those ODI figures eclipse Shane Bond (20.88 and 29.2) and Sir Richard Hadlee (21.56 and 39.1), albeit over far fewer matches so far.

There's no question he has courage but he now has to avoid 'second season syndrome' against the West Indies and India. Anderson's powerful striking as a No6 batsman holds promise, both in the test and limited overs arena. The left-hander swings in a sweet arc through the onside and can bisect point and cover with aplomb. The 22-year-old probably has the prefix 'batting' in front his all-rounder tag at present. His medium-pace bowling looks optional rather than imperative but he shapes as a promising replacement for Jacob Oram.

NZC have invested heavily in Latham from age-group to international level and there are signs he is better than his 25.45 ODI average.

His first two international scoring shots - scything boundaries through cover and point in February last year against Zimbabwe - were an immediate indication of his talent, but this month's match-winning 86 against Sri Lanka was proof of improvement. A test debut looks imminent. Anderson has edged ahead of Munro and Neesham on the all-rounder front but there could be a space in 2015 for one of them to join the likes of Nathan McCullum and, possibly, Daniel Vettori in a starting XI.

Munro can be bludgeoning and clinical as a batsman with the ability to get his eye in early but his inclination to indulge the reverse sweep as his party trick could become a millstone. As a pre-meditated shot, it is becoming easier to read than Dr Seuss.

Recently Munro told cricinfo.com, "It is the way I play. I have developed that shot in the last two to three years. In the subcontinent where world-class bowlers are bowling at you and, with the new rules, they have backward point open, so it is a really good option." Please use it sparingly, Colin.

Neesham has shown more prominence in T20, starring for Otago in the recent Champions League, but can make a play for ODI territory after strong performances, particularly his use of the slower ball and the yorker for four-wicket bags, while in Bangladesh.