Yorked!!! – By Chetan Narula.

Onto the World Stage: New Zealand – The Incredibles.

New Zealand are as good as any other international team in the world today. They match Australia in aggression, India in passion, England in defiance and South Africa in talent. Frankly speaking, possessing all these qualities sometimes actually makes them the best team in the world. Then what on earth makes them the biggest under achievers in world cricket?

Finding an answer to this will be my quest as I take a look at their chances in this year’s tournament. But as always we need to take a look at the fifteen players sent to West Indies 2007: Stephen Fleming (capt), Shane Bond, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum (wk), Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent. No big surprises except that Daryl Tuffey returns after a long break from the game due to injury.

The talent has always been there, so has been able leadership under Stephen Fleming. But sometimes able opponents, as in 1996 or in 1999, and sometimes silly decisions, like not playing in Zimbabwe and Kenya in 2003, have cost them in the big tournament. So much so that the ICC knock out trophy in 1998 is the only major trophy they have won in international cricket. Surely as the sun goes down on a number of Kiwi players’ careers after the world cup, they have to muster enough mental strength to give it one final push.

Mental strength I say? You must be surprised that while all other teams have been lacking in some department or the other, is it just the non-physical aspect which is missing in New Zealand’s case. Yes is the answer. Simply put, they have the appetite for big games, as their recent resurgence against Australia has shown us. However what they lack is the will power to succeed against the lesser teams.

A classic case comes to rest in the 2003 world cup. They beat South Africa in front of their home crowd and then were simply not upto the mark against the rest of the teams. In the super six stages they were a pale shadow of themselves and were consequently out of the cup. Or if we want a recent example, how about the escapades against Australia in the recently concluded Chappell-Haddlee trophy. There they could beat the living daylights out of the Aussies but couldn’t put it across a demoralized English side in the preceding CB series.

The fact that they just switch off their minds is the biggest reason why they won’t win the cup inspite being one of the favourites to reach the semi finals. Simply put, they might have played the biggest game of the tournament already and thus won’t be able to recharge themselves enough to compete well on a particular day. And that is why even the shrewdest captain in the world, Stephen Fleming, is not much of a success.

Fleming has been their trump card for many years and will again be so in this year’s cup. The reason is plain enough. Not only is the man a brilliant tactician but also a useful bat. His contributions have been all captain’s knocks or what you might call, leading from the front. He has always derived immense motivation in playing for his country. This is his swan song. Most probably he will not be there to play in 2011, and that is where his motivation will come from this time around. The point is can that be reflected onto the team?

The Kiwis are a team of bits and pieces players of the highest quality, unlike any other team in the world. Probably this is one factor that sets them apart. As a result, this team never hinges on a particular individual. And that is why apart from the skipper, a number of players will want to make themselves counted. Shane bond is one such player. Injuries of all kinds have always haunted his career and nobody than him knows this better that he is playing his last world cup. He has it in him to shake and stir the world but he needs companionship. Which in turn, will be provided by none other than Daniel Vettori, who will be marshalling the spin bowling department. Needless to say, even he knows this might be a last world stage outing.

The batting looks decent enough. As mentioned they are all bits and pieces players and you never know who is going to strike form next. One day they may be out on ducks and the next, they might just end up chasing 350+. Lou Vincent is an able opening bat and the new finds, Mason and Ross Taylor showcased what they are capable of against the Aussies. The fact that they have three all-rounders in Scott Styris, Craig McMillan and Jacob Oram forming their middle order, you will know that no total is safe, especially on the placid tracks in the Carribean. Add to it, the swashing blade of Brendon McCullum, and the batting bears a finished look.

Recent form only re-iterates the fact that they have it in them t reach the semi-finals. They have had the better of both Sri Lanka and West Indies at home, before struggling in the Champions trophy. The fact that they could not reach the tri-series finals in Australia and then beat the Aussies 3-0 at home only shows their supremacy at their home grounds. It’s their ability to perform outside their comfort zone is what will matter the most.

Simply put its all in the mind of the Kiwis.

My verdict – They will succumb to their mental pressure.