New Zealand is a team that regularly punches above their weight on the international scene but rarely do they walk away with the spoils at major championships.

    The Black Caps, like the Proteas, have crossed the line in first place just once – the 2000 Champions Trophy held in Nairobi. South Africa won the inaugural Champions Trophy in Dhaka two years earlier.

    New Zealand’s latest heartbreak at a world event came in last year’s Champions Trophy when they lost to arch-rivals Australia in the final.

     Despite entering the ICC World Twenty20 as underdogs the men from the Land of the Long White Cloud do have an ace or two up their sleeve.

    Daniel Vettori is an astute captain who leads his troops with in a calm yet inspirational manner.

    Vettori is also one of the world’s premier left-arm spinners while his batting has progressed at such a rate he is now classed as a genuine all-rounder.

     In the run-scoring department New Zealand will rely heavily on wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum

    The pugnacious right-hander has a tendency to be a touch erratic in T20 cricket but he does have the ability to score a lot of runs quickly.

    In 2008 McCullum set the record for the highest T20 score when he blasted his way to 158 for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.

    In February this year he also became only the second man to register a ton in international T20 cricket when he helped himself to 116 not out off just 56 balls against Australia.

    McCullum’s main support in the batting stakes will come from Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Jesse Ryder and the injury-prone Jacob Oram.

    Oram’s fitness could be key for the Black Caps. Oram is still only 31-years-old but a spate of injuries means that he has retired from test cricket to focus on one-day and T20 internationals.

    His big-hitting ability in the middle-order, plus his useful medium-pacers, means that he gives balance to New Zealand’s line-up.

    Vettori heads a bowling line-up that will be spearheaded by fast bowler Shane Bond.

    Like Oram, Bond was seen his career plagued by injuries but he remains one of world cricket’s most talented new ball bowlers.

    Bond generates real pace and his ability to extract late swing means that New Zealand will be confident of taking early wickets against whomever they may be playing.

    Bond will be backed up by a workmanlike pace attack of Kyle Mills, Ian Butler and Tim Southee.

    New Zealand are coming off a drawn T20 series against Australia and the result would have boosted their confidence ahead of the World Twenty20.

    They should have very few problems in advancing out of their group, where they face Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, and it would take a brave man to bet against the Black Caps from being in the shake-up for a semi-final spot.

    As to whether they can go a step further and claim the title, only time will tell.