Bracewell stands by decision

John Bracewell knows that he needs his team to be fully fit

John Bracewell has left no stone unturned in New Zealand's World Cup preparations.

The Black Caps coach has attracted more than his fair share of criticism for their rotation policy during the lengthy build-up of one-day internationals preceding the tournament.

That included five matches against Sri Lanka, the Commonwealth Bank Series in Australia involving the hosts and England, and the three-game Chappell-Hadlee series immediately before leaving for the West Indies in which they whitewashed Australia 3-0.

The last thing Bracewell and his management team want is an exhausted and injury-ravaged unit turning up in the West Indies, but with several of the squad still under injury clouds he is keeping his fingers crossed.

Nobody knows better than Bracewell the need to get it right after his experiences as a player in 1983 and 1987.

Stephen Fleming leads a talented New Zealand squad

“The two World Cups I went to were an absolute shambles,” he said.

“We just chose a team and took off. I made my one-day international debut in a World Cup match against England in 1983.

“When I look back at 1983, it was a disappointing World Cup because we were actually a pretty good side, but we just didn't prepare for it.”

Little surprise then that Bracewell is determined to put things right with the class of 2007.

Having fashioned an outstanding one-day record with Gloucestershire, Bracewell was the natural choice to return to New Zealand to work with the national side.

He has had to deal with a lack of resources emanating from the lower player numbers, which has been the reason for implementing what has become his controversial rotation policy this winter while Scott Styris, Jacob Oram and Kyle Mills have been on the injured list.

Shane Bond, the side's key attacking weapon, is forever under the threat of breaking down, although surviving the tri-series in Australia after comprehensive surgery on his back would suggest he will be in perfect shape for the West Indies.

“You're always going to have a vital few,” Bracewell said of the balance between form and injury in the New Zealand game.

All-rounder Jacob Oram needs to be firing © Getty Images

“We're trying to ensure that we have the vital few in the right condition at the right time. While we're doing that, it is providing us with depth and talent.”

In Stephen Fleming, Bond, Daniel Vettori, Styris, Oram, Mills and Brendon McCullum, Bracewell has a core unit that has seen New Zealand ranked the number three one-day team in the world.

What Bracewell has also encouraged is planning to a level never before demonstrated by a New Zealand coach. All the pre-tournament scouting has been done of venues, both on and off the field.

A level of statistical analysis Bracewell believes is at the high end of best practice has been applied by a core support group which will supplement the on-field effort.

“We're pretty covered on what the tournament can throw at us off the field, but what we cannot tick off is what the pitches are going to be like,” he said.

“That is going to be the big one. We have to make sure that in the 15 we take, we can cover our contingencies, not only against all teams, but also on all surfaces.

“Good decision-making has got to come on the field, that's why we've got a leadership group. A lot of the intelligence, the decisions, the intellect, comes out of the side,” he said.

Bracewell believes strongly that his best side can win the World Cup - if they can get on the pitch.