KEY POINTS:
The Black Caps cruised past the West Indies, are cruising through the World Cup and in fact could very well cruise into a semifinal spot without raising a sweat.
The only teams in the way of the Black Caps and eight points after the first three rounds of the Super Eight series are Bangladesh and Ireland.
You cannot assume that eight points will be enough but, with the help of a healthy run rate, it could prove to be.
When Bangladesh and Ireland qualified for the Super Eights, I was concerned that New Zealand's schedule could work against them. They had a grudge match straight up against England followed by two no-contests against Kenya and Canada.
That meant, going into the West Indies game, they would have spent 12 days either in the nets or bullying easybeats.
Then, following a game of relative intensity (West Indies), they will again spend the next 12 days beating Bangladesh and Ireland (we hope) and training.
So, of New Zealand's first six games of the tournament, just two will have been against teams that pose any real threat (as it happens, they didn't do that).
I expressed this concern in an earlier column, stating that it would be hard to build momentum. I have changed my mind.
If eight points prove to be enough to progress, then New Zealand are in the ideal spot.
I don't believe they are yet 100 per cent ready for a South African or Australian challenge, but who cares?
Even if they lost their last three games of the Super Eights then those last three games will provide the perfect build-up - in terms of playing intense, top-level cricket - provided eight points are enough to qualify them for the semis.
Win, lose or draw, and providing the team does not panic into making knee-jerk selection changes, they could not ask for a better way to prepare for a clutch semifinal.
This is looking from a worst-case-scenario.
In fact, our unfashionable cricket team could find themselves in a position to hold the balance of power when it comes to determining the order of play come semifinal time.
However, for those of you out there who feel more comfortable when they are worrying - like me - let's hope Fulton's shift to the top and early dismissal do not detract from the wonderful progress he has made of late.
Ross Taylor needs to get back on the field as soon as possible but, most importantly, will the Black Caps reverse their trend of dropping the one-off must-win match?
Because they have one of those coming on either April 24 or 25.
