Cricket: Team overview: New Zealand

By RICHARD BOOCK

Big Jake Oram is set to be handed a giant-sized assignment when New Zealand begin their campaign against Sri Lanka at Bloemfontein.

With the chances of Chris Cairns playing a meaningful part at the bowling crease diminishing by the day, Oram will become the team's most genuine allrounder - capable of batting in the top-order and operating as a front-line bowler.

Cairns' knee injury seems likely to allow only cameo appearances at the bowling crease in South Africa, meaning he is almost certain to picked for his batting alone throughout the tournament, and most likely at No 4.

The redefined role has caused a major shake-up for the one-day side, who need to hit the tournament running in order to cope with a high-powered start against Sri Lanka, the West Indies and South Africa.

To qualify for the second round, the minimum requirement initially involved winning one of the first three and then sweeping aside the minnows, but that all changed with New Zealand Cricket's decision against sending the team to Nairobi. Now, with the points against Kenya almost certainly forfeited, New Zealand could scrape through if they win at least two of their opening games, as well as the last two pool matches against Canada and Bangladesh.

For all that, knocking over a dangerous Sri Lankan outfit on Monday will be easier said than done, particularly when players such as Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva are in form, and spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is fit.

As for the West Indies, New Zealand have not beaten them in 12 matches at neutral venues, and will need to be in top form to break the drought at Port Elizabeth, where they play their second match on Thursday.

If New Zealand have not managed to collect enough points after that match, they will find themselves in a dire situation because their third contest is against the hosts at the Wanderers and will be one of the hardest to win.

The powerful Proteas hardly ever lose at Johannesburg, boasting an 80 per cent win record at the ground.

In fact, New Zealand have never won an ODI in South Africa after 12 attempts, having been trounced in the 1994-95 Mandela Trophy series, and 5-0 in the ODIs three years ago.

If they are to break the duck in the coming campaign, Oram's contribution looms as a vital one because he can effectively play the role of two players when in form - a la Cairns before the latest injury setback.

His ODI record does not yet make encouraging reading (377 runs at 16.39) but there have been glimpses of his value in the past, and he looked solid in his more recent outings against India.

One of New Zealand's most impressive contributors during that one-sided series, Oram might also find his style of bowling well suited to the South African pitches, which usually require maximum effort before offering any assistance.

Whatever his fate at the cup, he will at least start with some reasonable form behind him, something that several of his team-mates might be feeling a shade envious about.

Of the top order, most of the batsmen have struggled to make significant contributions and Craig McMillan has been especially fragile, leaving question marks over whether he can break back into the top line-up.

Possibly the biggest poser for the tour selectors is whether they should persevere with McMillan despite his form, or whether they should use the equally unreliable Mathew Sinclair, on the basis that he at least comes off occasionally.

With Cairns likely to bat at No 4, Scott Styris set to fit in at No 5 and Lou Vincent at six, New Zealand's greatest batting strength will lie in the middle and lower order, where they will be boosted by useful run-scorers such as Oram, Brendon McCullum, Andre Adams and Kyle Mills, not to mention Daniel Vettori and Shane Bond.

Vettori, who missed out on all the cup games in 1999 because the pitches were so seam-friendly, may also face a struggle to make the playing XI this time, although it would be a brave move to leave him on the sideline for long.

Then there is the question of Chris Harris and whether his well-known ODI abilities will be required.

It all adds up to an intriguing picture for the New Zealanders, who have previously qualified for four semifinals without managing to go any further.

Not that the record should discourage them.

As India found out in 1983, and Sri Lanka discovered in 1996, there's always a first time.

INSIDE TRACK

Captain: Stephen Fleming.

Coach: Denis Aberhart.

Strengths: Team work - the most consistent feature of all successful New Zealand sides - and the ability to make the most of limited playing resources. Fielding is another asset, as is the bowling of Shane Bond, the team's fastest bowler for two generations.

Weaknesses: The balance of the side, if Chris Cairns is not fully recovered from injury. The hard-hitting and confident Cairns is the perfect fulcrum as one of the world's few genuine allrounders. New Zealand have also struggled to find a top performer bowling at the death.

Key man: Fast-scoring opener Nathan Astle, who will be playing in his third cup. While regarded as New Zealand's finest ODI batsman, his record away from home is not as good - nor is his cup record.

One-day form: Ended a poor run by beating India at home 5-2, although indifferent pitches were a factor. Last year lost 3-0 in Pakistan, 3-1 in the West Indies and were knocked out of the Champions Trophy at the first hurdle.

Past World Cups: Semifinalists in 1975, 1979, 1992 and 1999, quarter-finalists in 1996. Most impressive tournament was in 1992 when a bold strategy of opening the bowling with offspinner Dipak Patel and launching the innings with pinch-hitter Mark Greatbatch - along with the inspired batting of Martin Crowe - helped set the early pace before losing their semifinal to Pakistan.