Time lost throughout October, due to pay negotiations between New Zealand Cricket and the Players' Association, may yet prove an Achilles' heel for New Zealand and its World Cup aspirations in South Africa later in the summer.

Valuable time for coaches and players to formulate match plans, and an overall strategy, has been lost in this period because of the lack of communication between coaches and players as a result of the players withdrawing their services.

Based on past experience, especially in 1992 and 1999, but probably also on other occasions, time is now of the essence.

With this in mind, CricInfo New Zealand approached Martin Crowe, the captain of the successful and innovative campaign in 1992 which so captured the mind of New Zealanders, to ask what he would do now to ensure New Zealand was at peak pitch to make a full-scale assault on cricket's Holy Grail.

Crowe, who is recovering from knee surgery resulting from the injury that forced him out of international cricket in 1995/96, welcomed the chance to take part in the exercise.

"I've always believed a World Cup campaign has to come from a long way back and I haven't felt anything similar has been happening this year. It may have, but I have not been aware of it.

"I know that in 1999 they did do that with a War Room and an identification of what they needed to do.

"Our record of winning only four of our last 21 games is of serious concern, and not acceptable from a team of the standard and capabilities of our side.

"It may be because of this players' strike, but despite that, this is World Cup year. It is what the whole season has been designed for with seven One-Day Internationals against India.

"I still feel there is a lot of experimentation going on after the debacle in Sri Lanka, even in the win over Bangladesh," he said.

Crowe said that taking part in the project was a useful exercise and he admitted to getting itchy feet as a result of it.

Crowe in the past has worked with New Zealand players both individually and with the team but said he had not been involved since the VB Series in Australia earlier this year.

While he hadn't included the thought in his plan for CricInfo, Crowe said he thought there should be some consideration given to taking a fielding coach into the side this year and it might be worth asking former coach Steve Rixon to find someone suitable for the side.

© CricInfo