Former captain: Plenty of 'match-winners' to chase title

Stephen Fleming. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Stephen Fleming has enough confidence in the current New Zealand side to confirm his travel schedule ahead of next year's Cricket World Cup.

"I'll certainly be a keen follower," said the former captain. "I'll be in the country until we make the final, then hopefully I can scrounge a trip to Melbourne."

Fleming, speaking 100 days out from the first game in Christchurch, might have had his tongue slightly in cheek but he does believe the Black Caps can go one better than the last time they hosted the tournament.

New Zealand reached their third semifinals at the 1992 edition, making the final four twice more during Fleming's reign and again in 2011. Aside from England's record of three runner-up finishes, no nation possesses a more fraught record when competing for cricket's greatest prize.

But Fleming thinks that can change this summer, when the Black Caps will enjoy ideal conditions, a groundswell of public support and, most importantly, perhaps the most complete squad since the tilt at the 1992 title. "It's one of the more talented one-day sides that we've ever put out and, fully fit, there are match-winners throughout," Fleming said. "Where teams in the past have had one or two really good players, then a group a good players, then a squad made up of the rest, here we've got guys really fighting for spots.

"We've talked ourselves up in the past to try and generate confidence in our players, but I think it's warranted this time because we have a group of players who are genuinely world class."

One such player may not even make the World Cup squad. The road to Jesse Ryder's rehabilitation will continue when the mercurial all-rounder plays for New Zealand A next month and Fleming, the fan, is hopeful of seeing Ryder back in the black cap.

"There's frustration for cricket fans," he said. "They see a guy who bowls sixth bowler and whacks it at the top - then you hear we need a sixth bowler and a guy that whacks it at the top.

"It will come down to a question to be answered by the New Zealand management. They're looking for some behavioural changes, so it will be interesting to see how they map those out and how Jesse responds.

Regardless of Ryder's possible inclusion, Fleming, in his current role as coach of Chennai Super Kings, has heard the Black Caps being touted as one of the tournament's danger sides.

"Most players who I talk to in the IPL see New Zealand as a threat."