KEY POINTS:
GEORGETOWN, Guyana - Jacob Oram would not tempt cricketing fate by modifying a super confident Glenn McGrath's standard pre-tournament spiel about the world champions' inherent invincibility.
But by New Zealand standards the allrounder's optimism before the team's World Cup campaign intensifies sounded suspiciously Australian.
Captain Stephen Fleming set
the tone for New Zealand's bullish approach when yesterday proclaiming his side realised they were capable of winning the World Cup for the first time in nine attempts.
Oram swiftly reiterated Fleming's view before the squad arrived in Grenada today for a tough climax to the Super Eights, starting with Sri Lanka on Thursday (Friday NZT), ahead of games against South Africa and Australia.
"There's every chance we're right up there as favourites for the tournament, that's how we're looking at it," he said.
"I'd like to think people are starting to realise we're not just flying under the radar, we're actually a good side."
Oram would never go as far as McGrath, the retirement-bound Australian quick, who last month declared: "I can't really see any team getting close to us".
The 28-year-old was more circumspect, acknowledging a rather grim conversion rate -- be it at the netball world championship or the rugby World Cup -- in terms of a New Zealand team's ability to take the final step.
He could even dwell on his own side shortcomings.
New Zealand were the first semifinalists confirmed for last October's Champions Trophy and duly collapsed to 35 for six, chasing 240, against Australia before losing by 34 runs.
A virtual semifinal against England to make the tri-series in Brisbane in February also came ingloriously unstuck.
"I know we don't perform that well as favourites," Oram said.
"I suppose it's a New Zealand thing. We always like to be underdogs, but one thing we've tried to address is if you look at yourself as an underdog too much then you start to downplay what you're capable of.
"I'm not saying we're the favourites for the tournament, I'm saying we're playing well enough, our confidence is very high and we can see ourselves not only getting a semifinals berth but also a finals spot as well.
"We're trying not to get too far ahead of ourselves but we're playing well and in these conditions we're adaptable."
New Zealand's ability to assess another match venue will be put to the test tomorrow although they kept a watching brief on South Africa's 67-run win over the West Indies at Grenada National Stadium today, an outcome that basically evicts the hosts from their own party.
Neither side boasted a notable spinner so New Zealand management will have to decide whether to stick with the Daniel Vettori-Jeetan Patel combo that proved successful during the 129-run defeat of Ireland here or finally give Mark Gillespie or Chris Martin their first outing at the expense of Michael Mason.
Mason is still nursing a calf strain and will be not be considered for the Sri Lankan match.
However, the news is brighter for teammate Ross Taylor, who is poised to end a four-match injury layoff by returning at No 3 in the batting order.
Taylor ran strongly at a workout out in Grenada shortly after arriving, convincing medical staff he is over a hamstring strain sustained against Kenya on March 20.
He is set to renew hostilities with the opposition he scored 128 not out, his maiden one-day century, against at Napier in January.
Hamish Marshall, a mid-tour replacement for Lou Vincent, will drop out of the starting 11 although he will probably be used as a substitute fielder.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have their own injury concern, with tricky round-arm pace bowler Lasith Malinga in doubt due to an ankle injury.
The tournament's leading wicket taker with 15, Malinga will be assessed again tomorrow and should he be unavailable it will boost the Black Caps' confidence given the angst he has caused on successive trips to New Zealand, particularly with the red ball.
- NZPA
