Group B (with South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Kenya, Bangladesh, Canada).

Strengths: Team work — the most consistent feature of all successful New Zealand sides — and the ability to make the most of limited playing resources. Fielding is another asset, as is the bowling of Shane Bond, the team’s fastest bowler for two generations.

Weaknesses: The balance of the side, if Chris Cairns is not fully recovered from injury. The hard-hitting and confident Cairns is the perfect fulcrum as one of the world’s few genuine all rounders. New Zealand have also struggled to find a top performer bowling at the death.

Key man: Fast-scoring opener Nathan Astle, who will be playing in his third World Cup. While regarded as New Zealand’s finest one-day batsman, his record away from home is not as good — nor is his World Cup record.

One-day form: Ended a poor run by beating India at home 5-2, although indifferent pitches were a factor. Fleming says the team will do even better in better conditions. Earlier in 2002 lost 3-0 in Pakistan, 3-1 in West Indies and were knocked out of the Champions Trophy at first hurdle.

Past World Cup performances: Semifinalists in 1975, 1979, 1992 and 1999, quarterfinalists in 1995. Most impressive World Cup was in 1992 when a bold strategy of opening the bowling with off-spinner Dipak Patel and launching the innings with pinch-hitter Mark Greatbatch — along with the inspired batting of captain Martin Crowe — helped New Zealand set the early tournament pace. But they lost that year’s semifinal by four wickets to Pakistan, who were urged to fight like cornered tigers by captain Imran Khan.

Prediction: Semifinals.—Reuters