Mark Richardson: Prospects promising from Ground Zero

Kane Williamson. Photo / AP

I do not think that low scorer at Eden Park was a result of two poor teams coming together. Both the Black Caps and the West Indies have ODI potential and it is interesting to look - at what is 'ground zero' for the World Cup build-up - at how our ODI team stack up.

Ignore what happened in the awkward conditions of Eden Park - the top five, the engine room of limited overs batting, look really good. Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptill are proven performers; Ryder won't slap them all to cover and Guptill will hit more straight ones than he misses. These two are an opening combo to place faith in.

Kane Williamson is making strides toward being a world-class cricketer and is key in my World Cup team. However, I would use him in a floating role. If Guptill and Ryder go gangbusters for 10 overs, he goes in next but if wickets are lost in the first powerplay, I would like to see Brendon McCullum bat at first drop.

One wicket should not halt the aggressive approach and McCullum can do a job both early and late in an innings. Two early wickets should also not stop the desire to maximise the first 10 overs of fielding restrictions; so using Luke Ronchi as the other floater could be the way he proves his worth.

Williamson and Ross Taylor work singles and accelerate more efficiently later in their innings; they are two I'd rather not risk in the hurly-burly of the initial overs.

If that top five is together in February 2014, there is reason for hope. The squabble for places begins at six.

Cory Anderson is most definitely worth persevering with. There is an element of class about this lad and an air of confidence I like. He provides that power game so crucial in the lower middle order - and provides overs with the ball.

Ronchi has work to do. He has promised plenty since arriving on these shores but has not delivered enough at the top level. Clearly he gets the nod over BJ Watling because of his power game but don't underestimate Watling's canny ability; surely Ronchi must be feeling his presence.

The bowling all-rounder at eight is wide open. I am not sold on Jimmy Neesham just yet and, rather than look to play another seamer, his spot is the one I am reserving for Daniel Vettori. I pick my best four bowlers in a one day team and Vettori, Kyle Mills, Mitchell McClenaghan and Nathan McCullum (or Tim Southee, depending on conditions) are the best four right now.

Anderson and Ryder provide back-up seam bowling and Williamson makes a possible seventh option. A bit of genuine pace would be nice and so Adam Milne must get a run this summer - but he would have to make large strides forward before I sacrificed the cricketing nous of Nathan McCullum or the bowling smarts of Southee simply for pace.

So right now ground zero is not too bad at all and, if this team can stay together for a year, then things look very promising indeed. If they can't, then replacements in Tom Latham, Colin Munro and Trent Boult give me confidence too.