They are the nearly men of world cricket, with a reputation for faltering at the business end of tournaments.
But a year on from the pain of losing the 50 over World Cup final,
skipper Kane Williamson says his unbeaten New Zealand team are a relaxed
and fearless unit as they hone in on Twenty20 cricket's biggest prize.
"At the moment the team is very relaxed, going about their business,"
Williamson told reporters on Tuesday on the eve of New Zealand's World
Twenty20 semi-final clash against England in New Delhi.
"Up until now we have been playing fearless cricket and smart cricket
and that's what we will try and do again and hope that holds us in good
stead in terms of a result.
"But at the same time we are up against a very strong England team
that will be trying their best to win the game. So we are looking
forward to it. It's going to be exciting."
Williamson took over on the eve of the tournament in India as New
Zealand's captain after the retirement of their talisman Brendon
McCullum, who went some way to rewriting that reputation for
under-achievement.
While New Zealand have never won either of cricket's two major
international trophies, they had made it to the semi-finals on seven
occasions before McCullum took over.
But although they went one better last year by reaching the final of
the World Cup, there was more heartache to come when they were
steamrolled by Michael Clarke's Australian team at the Melbourne Cricket
Ground.
- Favourites tag -
Williamson insisted that defeat was not playing on the team's mind but he also resisted talk that the Black Caps' wins over India, Australia and Pakistan in the group stages put them in the rare position of favourites.
Williamson insisted that defeat was not playing on the team's mind but he also resisted talk that the Black Caps' wins over India, Australia and Pakistan in the group stages put them in the rare position of favourites.
"We have made one final and lost, but we don't look at it that
closely," said Williamson, who has been one of the stand-out performers
in New Zealand's perfect run to the semis.
"I think it's almost impossible in T20 cricket to give someone the
favourites tag. It's so fickle in its nature that on any given day the
team that plays the best wins and England can beat anyone."
While England are playing their third match in a row at Delhi's Feroz
Shah Kotla stadium, it will be the fifth different venue in five
tournament matches for the Black Caps.
To date, New Zealand's spinners have taken to the different surfaces
like ducks to water and have been so potent that both of the team's main
fast bowlers -- Trent Boult and Tim Southee --- are yet to get a game.
Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi were the top wicket-takers in the
group stages while even part-time medium-pacer Grant Elliott weighed in
with figures of three for 12, bowling mainly cutters, in the last match
against Bangladesh.
"The spinners have been brilliant on surfaces that have suited spin
bowling," said Williamson, while holding back from confirming that all
his spinners would again start the game.
"We are not quite sure at this stage what to expect. We have seen a
few games played on it recently, but we still have to have a good look
at the surface and decide.
"There are number of world class bowlers that haven't played a game,
still been brilliant in the group and understand that we do the best we
can in picking the side for the surface and opposition to try give
ourselves the best chance. We have got all 15 players on board with
that."
Apart from the question mark over whether off-spinner Nathan McCullum
will keep his place, New Zealand are expected to recall key batsman
Martin Guptill who was rested for their last group match against
Bangladesh.
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