World Cup win won't surprise Styris

Scott Styris says he has no doubt the current New Zealand squad has the ability to win the World Cup.

New Zealand, already through to their fifth semi-final in the tournament's nine-edition history, face fellow last-four qualifiers and champions Australia in their final Super Eights match beginning Friday night (Australian time) at Grenada's National Stadium.

But whereas a semi-final spot might have been the summit of ambition for previous New Zealand teams, Styris said the Black Caps could not only go one better in the West Indies and reach a final for the first time but take home the trophy as well.

"I am biased, but I think this is the first New Zealand side that is considered to have the first genuine opportunity to win it," he said.

"If we play well, we know we are a good enough side to win it.

"In the past, a semi-final spot has been a fair result for some of those teams. This team here, if we hadn't made the semis it would have been a failure.

"If we win it, then I think it's deserved. If we don't, it's disappointing and that's probably not been the case for previous campaigns."

Arguably the closest New Zealand have come to winning the World Cup was in 1992, when they were joint hosts with Australia.

In front of a home crowd in Auckland, New Zealand were on top in their semi-final against Pakistan until the then unknown Inzamam-ul-Haq scored 60 off 37 balls to turn the game the way of the eventual champions.

But by then New Zealand had already left a mark on the tournament, not least through the innovative tactics of captain Martin Crowe which included opening the bowling with off-spinner Deepak Patel.

"New Zealand got in behind it big-time because they played well and out-thought a few opponents, which is where the history of New Zealand tactical smarts has come from, with Martin Crowe," said the 31-year-old Styris.

Styris has been in superb batting form in the Caribbean and is currently fourth in the tournament's list of leading run-scorers with 435 at an average of 108.75, boosted by 111 not out in a six-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka in Grenada last week - New Zealand's only loss in the tournament to date.

"I'm happy with the way I'm going about my innings which is the thing that gets you good scores, particularly on these wickets," said Styris.

"I was really happy with my first innings against England (where his composed, unbeaten 87 secured a six-wicket win in St Lucia last month).

New Zealand hosted and thrashed Australia 3-0 in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in February and Styris said: "I'm sure they (Australia) are still smarting a bit and we need to fight fire with fire.

"Against England and the West Indies, we didn't let the foot off the throat which has always been a problem for New Zealand sides in the past."