KEY POINTS:
For a project three years in the making, involving equal doses of experimentation, PR spin and unpalatable results, this was a giant flop. It's one to thing to hope to win, it's quite another to talk up your chances, lampoon the opposition and then slink out the back exit.
Seldom, if ever, have New Zealand found themselves at a World Cup with such a favourable draw; a schedule that required them to win only three second round games to make the cut, and qualify to meet their preferred semifinal opponent.
There were games against lowly Ireland and Bangladesh to help them on their way, a couple of more soft opponents in England and the West Indies, and a more intense week late in the second round that should have honed the side's preparation.
Remember Shane Bond's words - "This is the draw we wanted; they [Sri Lanka] are the team we wanted to play, and this is the ideal place for us to play them." Right ho.
The record books will show, however, that - of the major opponents - New Zealand were able to beat only England, the West Indies and South Africa, and the latter only after being gifted such an influential toss that they could hardly lose.
Good campaign? It was a mirage; an effort that looked promising until you took into account the flattering draw, and the inadequacies exposed by teams such as Australia and Sri Lanka, who both looked several notches above New Zealand.
Rather, it was a shambles of a tournament for New Zealand, and the fallout has already claimed Stephen Fleming's one-day captaincy. But should we just put it behind us in the same manner that New Zealand decided to "forget" their record 215-run loss to Australia?
No, we don't think so either. The following ratings illustrate how Fleming's squad fared:
Stephen Fleming
Started off by averaging 70 in his first five innings, which seems impressive until you consider that the bulk of his runs were made against Kenya, Canada, the West Indies and Bangladesh. In his next five outings, he averaged 14.60. In the last five innings against Sri Lanka, he scored 0,0,0,0 and 1. His captaincy was astute but he was right to resign. It's time for a change.
5/10
Peter Fulton
Stood up to be counted when required, which was throughout the order. Role played impressively when used as caretaker opener following Lou Vincent's injury. Has developed back-foot play and has started to stroke ball around the clock. Largely went unsupported while top scoring in New Zealand's last two games.
7/10
Ross Taylor
Only one score of note - 85 against Kenya in the group phase. Was billed as a player to watch out for after some impressive innings in the CB tri-series. After straining a hamstring he was unable to recover momentum and touch, and finished the tournament with an average of 17.83. His last two dismissals were infuriatingly reckless.
3/10
Scott Styris
The top allrounder at the World Cup by some stretch. Styris said before the tournament that the conditions would suit his game; one of the few assertions any of the New Zealanders got right during the World Cup. Ended with 499 runs at 83.16 (strike-rate: 83.44). Also took nine wickets. Easily the most impressive of the New Zealanders.
9/10
Brendon McCullum
With Kumar Sangakkara, probably the best gloveman at the World Cup, but was another starved of batting opportunities early on, only to squander most of his chances when they finally came around later. His best efforts were 52 not out against Canada and 47 against Ireland. Horrible first-ball dismissal in the semifinal. But superb wicket-keeping effort against the Windies.
4/10
Craig McMillan
Performed his role well enough at No 5, where he was charged with increasing the strike-rate and carrying the attack to the bowlers. Trouble was, the top-order played so well early in the tournament that he received few chances, and so badly later on that he was exposed against the new ball. Probably his best World Cup in three.
4/10
Jacob Oram
Struck an unbeaten 63 against England at the start of the tournament but could not harness the form that made him such a favourite in Australia earlier this year. Averaged 33.00 with the bat, courtesy of a couple of not outs, and took nine wickets. Was expected to stamp his mark on the World Cup, but couldn't quite find top gear.
4/10
Daniel Vettori
New Zealand's highest wicket-taker with 16 at 27.93, representing one of New Zealand's best bowling efforts in World Cup history. However, conceded 50, 61 and 51 in his final three outings, as New Zealand went belly-up at the end. Became the second New Zealander to take 200 ODI wickets and, against Australia, played his 200th match. Given the conditions, probably wasn't happy with the effort.
5/10
James Franklin
Still proved expensive but continued to take wickets, some of them from mostly harmless and ill-directed deliveries. Ended up taking 11 at 30.09, with an economy rate of 5.06. Struggled to make the ball swing and was again affected by migraines. Went for nines against the West Indies and Australia, but was useful in the semifinal, dismissing both Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara.
3/10
Shane Bond
Simply outstanding, and revelation throughout the tournament - until he got to the semifinal, that is. Finished with 13 wickets at the astonishing average of 16.38, with an equally remarkable economy rate of 3.05. Up until the semi, when he took one for 59, that rate was below three. Illness again played a part in his campaign - he missed the Australian match with a stomach upset.
8/10
Jeetan Patel
The revelation within the New Zealand team, the only mystery was why coach John Bracewell didn't play him all the time. Took seven wickets at 35.00 and his economy rate of 4.50 would have been much less - but for the fact he was often bowling at the death. Bamboozled the Windies while taking three for 31.
5/10
Michael Mason
Looked likely to be busy after Daryl Tuffey's injury, Mark Gillespie's shoulder problem and the penchant for resting Shane Bond. But a calf muscle injury in Antigua robbed him of much needed momentum, and he finished the tournament with three wickets from just five games. Struggled to back up after opening spell.
3/10
Mark Gillespie
Probably should have been replaced after arriving in the Caribbean with a crook shoulder - caused by acute neuritis. Couldn't play until the Sri Lanka game at Grenada last week. Went for 42 off six in that encounter and then blew his chances against Australia, conceding 67 off six. Chris Martin, who eventually came over for the injured Tuffey, should have replaced Gillespie in the first week.
1/10
Hamish Marshall
Rushed into the squad after the finger injury suffered by Lou Vincent and Ross Taylor's hamstring strain. Could barely manage to improve his dire recent record. His highlight was an unbeaten half-century against Bangladesh, sandwiched between two failures against the West Indies and Ireland. As soon as Taylor was fit, Marshall was gone.
4/10
Chris Martin
You have to wonder what might have happened, had Bracewell given Martin a better opportunity - both when he picked his squad and when he opted to send for the right-arm paceman after the injuries to Martin and Gillespie. Was the form bowler in domestic cricket, bowled superbly in the nets during the Cup, but was left on the sidelines. Should have been picked from the outset.
No rating
* Lou Vincent, Daryl Tuffey: injured in first round and replaced.
