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ST GEORGE'S, Grenada - Parallels have understandably been drawn between New Zealand's current tilt at the cricket World Cup crown and the captivating campaign of 1992.
The similarities between Auckland and Antigua are almost eerie -- beige, benign wickets both custom-made for New Zealand's battery of military-medium bowlers adept at taking the pace off the ball.
With Chris Harris, Gavin Larsen and Rod Latham sending down "dibbly, dobbly" deliveries that Dean Jones and the like struggled to hit safely off the Eden Park square, New Zealand memorably out-played and out thought favourites Australia to start their magical seven-match unbeaten run with a 37-run upset.
Fifteen years on in the Caribbean, New Zealand have happily found themselves virtually on home soil.
So far they've encountered a series of pitches without a pulse -- sticky, low and slow -- mana from heaven for Scott Styris and the latter day Latham, Craig McMillan.
There is, of course, another obvious correlation between the two sides widely regarded as New Zealand's best equipped to ever challenge for the symbol of one-day supremacy -- a spinner called Patel.
Dipak Patel was arguably coach Warren Lees' tactical masterstroke as the occasional offie was surprisingly thrust into the opening bowling role -- with equally surprising results as New Zealand confounded expectations by progressing as far as the semifinals.
In the West Indies, Jeetan Patel has not been given such a central role, playing just four of the Black Caps eight games, principally as a foil for Daniel Vettori to stem the run flow through the accumulation phase of an innings.
However, he has also been used at the "death" against England and South Africa, a unforgiving task he has performed admirably.
So, could that versatility raise the possibility of Patel emulating his unrelated namesake perhaps bowling earlier than normal against Australia at the Grenada National Stadium on Friday (1.30amSatNZT)?
Stephen Fleming was posed the question today and although innovation has been a hallmark of his reign, New Zealand will not be delving into the Lees' playbook in a bid to end Australia's unbeaten streak before a potential all-Antipodean final in Barbados on April 28.
Although the pressure is off to a degree with both sides already through to semifinals, Fleming said the final Super Eights' assignment was not the time to get clever.
"There could be some experimentation, a little bit but not much," the skipper said without elaborating.
"We don't want to go away from what we've been planning -- that would show a lack of thought.
"We are trying to add subtleties to carry us through the remainder of the World Cup but to come in now and do something bizarre would perhaps throw us out more than it would the opposition.
"I know there's an opportunity to do it but we just want to keep doing what works."
Fleming has applied the same philosophy to his batting order, indicating an out-of-form Daniel Vettori would not be pushed up the order to potentially spend more time in the middle.
"We've done that too many times in the past -- if we take the opportunity to get a guy up to speed, we compromise someone else," Fleming said.
The unorthodox left hander's form has dipped dramatically since he was curiously promoted to No 5 during the home series against Sri Lanka either side of Christmas.
His elevation was as ill-conceived as Brendon McCullum's brief resurrection as an opener, though the wicketkeeper has subsequently thrived in his niche at No 7.
Vettori, meanwhile, has continued to struggle although in mitigation he has had few opportunities due to a fully functioning top order.
Since Vettori crafted a face-saving 79 against Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinal in India last November he has made just 103 runs from 13 innings with a top score of 19 against Sri Lanka in Queenstown on New Year's Eve.
"We shouldn't have to rely on his runs to win games," Fleming said.
"The fact he's out of form is a little bit irrelevant because the top order should do the job."
- NZPA
