KEY POINTS:
It's true, New Zealand haven't been able to get their mitts on the big prize - but no one could say they haven't had some fun trying.
From the pioneers in white flannels to the black-clad heroes of today, the four-times semifinalists have tried all sorts of strategies to win the World Cup, without managing to make the final.
Only England have made the semifinals on more occasions (five) without being able to make off with the silverware, but they have at least moved a step closer than New Zealand, having qualified for the final in 1979, 1987 and 1992.
New Zealand have featured in some of the most riveting of World Cup shootouts, and can look back on a galvanising campaign in 1992, when the Warren Lees-Martin Crowe ticket almost succeeded in changing a pig's ear into a silk purse. You can't, but they went close to disproving the theory during a campaign in which they opened the bowling with off-spinner Dipak Patel, and, against England, with Chris Harris.
Yes, it all ended in tears during the semifinal, but if there were prizes handed down for Most Innovative Thinking, New Zealand would have at least been on the podium.
The opening match, a win against Australia, set the tournament alight; a result that - if you were attempting to rank New Zealand's most spectacular Cup triumphs (a short list, admittedly) - would surely attract heavy voting.
February 1992, Auckland
* New Zealand beat Australia by 37 runs
Martin Crowe wins a crucial toss and elects to bat ... and bat. After the 50 overs, he's posted the first century of the tournament, starred in a life-saving fourth-wicket partnership with Ken Rutherford, and dragged his side through to 248 for six. Oh, and he did so on virtually one leg. But that wasn't the half of it.
Crowe throws Dipak Patel the new ball in front of disbelieving batsmen David Boon and Geoff Marsh.
"Six-pack" responds by conceding just 36 runs off his 10 overs, picking up the prize wicket of Allan Border. Crowe pulls the strings in the field, exploiting the pedestrian-paced pitch, and Gavin Larsen and Rod Latham accept catches off their own bowling. Boon reaches his century but becomes one of three run-out victims as Australia crash and burn with 11 balls remaining.
June 1983, Birmingham
* New Zealand beat England by 2 wickets
Still New Zealand's closest win in the World Cup after they beat England for the first time with just one ball to spare. Richard Hadlee and Lance Cairns take three wickets apiece as England are bowled out for 234 in 55.2 overs - leaving 4.2 overs of potential run-scoring wasted.
David Gower blazes 92 off 96 balls but the weakness of the England tail is exposed and the last four wickets fall for 31 runs. New Zealand begin the chase badly, Glenn Turner and Bruce Edgar falling in the fist two overs. But they are rescued, initially by skipper Geoff Howarth's patient 60, then by a match-winning unbeaten 66 from Jeremy Coney.
Hadlee plays a vital hand down the order, and eventually, it's Coney and current coach John Bracewell who scamper through for the winning runs.
May 1999, Cardiff
* New Zealand beat Australia by 5 wickets
Australia limp through to 218 for eight on a bowler-friendly Sophia Gardens pitch, after tournament sensation Geoff Allott rips the heart out of their batting with four for 37. In his own miserly style, Larsen provides impressive support, conceding just 26 off his 10 overs. Only Darren Lehmann (76) can gain any traction, although Ricky Ponting grafts out a painful 47.
But any joy over the bowling effort is short-lived as New Zealand slump to 49 for four in reply. It's only when 1999 batting hero Roger Twose starts counter-attacking with Chris Cairns that New Zealand storm back into contention.
Twose ends with an unbeaten 80, and Cairns, after swinging one huge six into the River Taff, eventually falls for 60. Adam Parore ensures no last-minute hiccups as the winning runs arrive with 4.4 overs to spare.
June 1975, Manchester
* New Zealand beat India by 4 wickets
New Zealand's first World Cup win against a major opponent. India scramble through to 230 thanks to 70 from Abid Ali, after making heavy going of an attack comprising Richard Colling, Hadlee, Dayle Hadlee, Brian McKechnie and Hedley Howarth.
Needing to win to reach the semifinals of the inaugural tournament, New Zealand receive excellent service from Glenn Turner, who not only carries his bat in scoring an unbeaten 117, but also shields his colleagues against the potent threat of spinner Bishen Bedi.
Turner allows Bedi to bowl his 12 overs for just 28 runs, but brings his team home with seven balls left.
February 2003, Johannesburg
* New Zealand beat South Africa by 9 wickets (D/L)
South Africa blast 306 for six after a whirlwind 143 from Herschelle Gibbs, leaving New Zealand facing a massive task to win the game and secure their place in the second round.
Shane Bond trudges off after conceding 73 runs off his 10-over allotment, but brightens considerably as he watches Stephen Fleming play the innings of his life, mostly in tandem with his lifelong friend and teammate Nathan Astle. Fleming strokes a superb 134 not out off just 132 balls, peppering the boundary hoardings 21 times. Astle plays a magnificent foil, hitting just four boundaries in an unbeaten 57 as New Zealand chase down a Duckworth-Lewis adjusted total of 226 in 39 overs. The winning runs spark jubilant scenes among the New Zealanders, who spill out of their changing room and on to the field to engulf their skipper.
