Adam Parore: South Africa was a backward step for World Cup

Until the tour of South Africa, I thought New Zealand were in good shape for the World Cup, albeit 10 months out from the tournament in the Caribbean.

At that stage, after their comfortable series wins over Sri Lanka and the West Indies, I'd have given them an eight out of 10 for their progress and preparation.

After returning from the republic, I reckon they've dropped two points.

Several things happened on that trip I found hard to fathom. The opening batting issue, for example, was a distraction they didn't need.

At least now, the selectors can put all their thinking into the one-day game. They have three tests at home to Sri Lanka from late November, but apart from that it's all ODIs until after the World Cup.

Including the Champions Trophy, perhaps five against the Sri Lankans, a minimum of eight against Australia and England across the Tasman, then three Chappell Hadlee matches, that's between 18 and 20 ODIs between now and the World Cup. Plenty of time to rectify problem areas.

So what sort of shape are New Zealand in? My assessment right now is they've got big problems in two areas - the top of the batting order and the bowling at the death. But equally I believe they have the potential to produce a team capable of at least breaking new ground and making the final.

Many things have to be put right for that to happen, but this panel has it in them to achieve that.

Let's start with the batsmen. Our established core batsmen, such as Stephen Fleming, Scott Styris and Nathan Astle, are good players but they are not going to win us the World Cup on their own.

We've been down this road before - in Fleming and Astle's case three times already - and have come up short.

If New Zealand are to go better than their perennial last four spot, the younger players must make significant contributions.

And that means the likes of Ross Taylor, whom I believe to be the best young prospect around. He got a taste of things against the Sri Lankans and must be put back in the squad.

He, along with other players such as Lou Vincent, Jamie How, Peter Fulton and Brendon McCullum, who must be given a run at the top of the order next summer, could hold the key.

Hamish Marshall would normally be put in this bracket but he's in a deep trough. This break can't come quickly enough for him. He needs to go away and regroup.

Jesse Ryder is the other player many reckon to be on the fringe. But in my book he's not in Taylor's league in terms of potential. Taylor has an element of X factor about his batting.

You know what you'll get from the older hands and it won't be enough. The young guns, to use an old Black Caps term, must step forward.

The pitch conditions in the Caribbean will be important. They might suit us if there's not too much pace in them. However, if they have some zip in them we've got problems as several of our batsmen will battle.

It will be interesting to see how the selectors, and particularly coach John Bracewell, handle the older pros.

As we saw this summer, Astle doesn't like having the screws put on him to perform, but clearly it works. I suspect Fleming and Styris aren't especially comfortable with the blowtorch on them either, but that's no reason it should not be applied if the runs aren't coming.

The bowling seems relatively straightforward. Shane Bond, Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram, along with Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel, who has impressed me, form the core of the attack. Fingers crossed Bond is fit or we've got big problems - the attack will have more holes than swiss cheese.

The likes of Styris and Astle can fill in and could be New Zealand's get-out-of-jail cards. But if they're needed to bowl, say, 15 overs between them in an innings, New Zealand are in a jam.

The players should enjoy their break now. It promises to be a hectic next summer.