He won two World Cups as coach of Australia and was supposed to plot New Zealand's course to win this one.

He was hired on a four-year contract in 2011 as New Zealand's director of cricket but it all went west 18 months ago, so now he watches from afar and makes his observations..

If he is bitter, it does not show.

In fact, he tips New Zealand to make the final in Melbourne on March 29, although it is a prediction made without conviction.

New Zealand's batting is of concern to him, particularly what happened against Australia last Saturday at Eden Park when they were nearly mowed over chasing 152.

"New Zealand have been playing quite consistently," Buchanan says on cricket website espncricinfo.

"But I think it is a bit of a concern looking ahead in so far as a low score, good conditions, (Mitchell) Johnson bowls six overs for 68, (Brendon) McCullum teeing off as always, yet they struggle as a batting group to get it (152-9).

"They had a hiccup against Scotland (lost seven wickets chasing 143). They are playing well, they are at the top of their game, it's hard to see them not making the final but there are a couple of worrying concerns in there."

New Zealand have been a victim of their own success at the tournament. By rolling Scotland, England and Australia they have not been required to piece together a testing chase.

Two chases were ugly and the other dominated by McCullum so a couple of small opportunities to spend time in the middle were wasted.

McCullum (207 runs at an average of 51.75) and Kane Williamson (149 at 74.50) stand out like beacons in run-scoring terms in comparison with their teammates.

The pair have scored 356 runs between them, the exact aggregate of the other nine players.

Ross Taylor (29 at 9.66), Martin Guptill (99 at 24.75), Grant Elliott (58 at 19.33), Corey Anderson (112 at 37.33) and Luke Ronchi (47 at 23.50) are looking for either form or runs and in some cases both, starting against Afghanistan in Napier on Sunday.

Buchanan believes there is a case to give Tom Latham an opportunity to shore up the middle order.

"At the moment Guptill is not providing McCullum as much support as he should and Taylor is not putting runs together, though they are both quality players so you would expect them to start to come through.

"There is a young bloke sitting on the sideline in Latham, who possibly might add something to the side at the moment.

"They've got Elliott occupying that position, who with the one ball (bowled by Mitchell Starc) you looked at him, you wondered why he was in the side.

"Anderson's a good player, but against reasonable pace was a little at sea. Ronchi is a good hitter, but again would need conditions in his favour.

"Williamson played exceptionally well (against Australia). He is a player well above the age (24)  that is, in terms of experience and composure at the crease.

"So there are question marks there, but nonetheless they are a side full of confidence at the moment and that can carry you across the line no matter how many players are not playing as well as they should."