Fitting Black Caps, Taylor-stitched

But there is no doubting that performances have improved across the board in the past month coinciding with Taylor8217;s growing time at the crease.

The 22-year-old part-Samoan doesn8217;t say much, he prefers to let his bat do the talking and in less than a year on the world stage the right-hander is averaging 42 from 15 outings.

But it was a slow start, and less than six months ago he couldn8217;t make the New Zealand team for the Champions Trophy.

Such was the dismal top-order batting there, however, Taylor8217;s revival was a formality and he hasn8217;t looked back.

In the second match of the Australian series this month, he led New Zealand to a record-breaking win and their first Chappell-Hadlee series title.

With incredible hand-eye co-ordination, he smashed 117 8212; his second century of the season after his maiden against Sri Lanka 8211; to transform an unlikely chase for 337 into one of New Zealand8217;s most memorable triumphs.

The Black Caps now go to the Caribbean desperate to prove their victories over Australia were not an aberration.

But after a history of stunning wins entwined with inexplicable failures, captain Stephen Fleming knows not to be too confident. 8220;We are excited but we want to be become a consistent side,8221; he said.

8220;We8217;ll continue to be the dark horses in every tournament if we go up and down.8221;

With a small talent pool to call on, the New Zealand team largely selected itself although the trick for coach John Bracewell was getting the right balance of batsmen, bowlers and all-rounders.

Backing Taylor in the batting ranks are the resurgent Lou Vincent and Fleming while Craig McMillan and Peter Fulton are likely to be battling for the remaining spot once injured all-rounder Jacob Oram is cleared to play again.

Oram, who broke his ring finger against Australia, is expected to miss New Zealand8217;s first World Cup game against England but will be available after that.

The bowling ranks centre around Shane Bond, one of the finest strike bowlers in world cricket but with an unfortunate history of injuries.