Underdogs New Zealand 'can beat anyone on our day'

New Zealand all-rounder Melie Kerr believes they can continue to challenge at ICC tournaments, saying we will "see the best of them" over the "next five to 10 years".

The White Ferns head into the 50-over World Cup chasing an unexpected double after emerging as the surprise winners of the T20 World Cup in 2024.

Having entered that tournament on a streak of 10 T20 defeats, they went on to beat South Africa in the final to win their first ICC trophy since 2000 and New Zealand's first T20 title in men's or women's cricket.

Despite that triumph, which came two years after winning bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, New Zealand are not among the favourites to lift the World Cup - a status Kerr will happily accept if going under the radar takes them to another trophy.

"Everyone that's playing in a World Cup wants to win but that T20 World Cup was awesome," Kerr told BBC Sport.

"People overlook New Zealand and we're not talked of as favourites, which we can use in our favour and just work quietly behind the scenes and go out there and express ourselves when we get the chance.

"I think this group we have is really exciting and in the next five to 10 years, you're going to see the best of them."

New Zealand face Australia in Indore on Wednesday in their opening match.

New Zealand's ODI form has been uninspiring in the build up to the World Cup.

Since exiting in the group stage in 2022, they've won 11 of their 29 matches, including losing seven of their past 10 completed outings, and haven't played an official ODI since March.

But while head coach Ben Sawyer acknowledges Australia, India, and England - the three sides ahead of them in the ICC rankings - are deservedly favourites, he isn't concerned by New Zealand's form or comparative inconsistency.

Speaking to BBC World Service's Stumped podcast, Sawyer said: "They're the three standouts, that's my opinion.

"But the beauty of a World Cup is that you've only got to beat each of those teams once, and on some occasions, you only have to beat them on the final day.

"We think we can beat anyone on our day."

Like Kerr, Sawyer doesn't mind the lack of external expectation on his side, stating "that's the way the Kiwis like it", but he's less enthusiastic about the 'underdog' tag following a "profound message" from former Australia women and England men head coach Matthew Mott before the 2024 final.

"He said, 'don't go into this final as underdogs, you want to attack from the front'," recalls Sawyer.

"I remember sitting there that morning, we sat and watched every boundary and every wicket we'd taken, every catch we'd taken, and it was like we've done this, and we've just got to repeat this.

"There is that element of enjoying an underdog status but there's also times when you've got to be out in front. It was time to puff your chest out a bit and get out in front."

New Zealand's squad is a blend of youth and experience, with veterans Sophie Devine, who will retire from the format after the tournament, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu selected alongside four players aged 23 or under.

Kerr, herself only 24, is expected to be one of their standout players. She is New Zealand's leading ODI run-scorer since the last World Cup (927 runs) while only sister Jess has taken more than her 23 wickets, and she's proven herself in sub-continental conditions with standout contributions in Mumbai Indians' two Women's Premier League title-winning campaigns.

However, when it came to selecting players to watch, Kerr opted for two of her younger team-mates: batter Georgia Plimmer, who was New Zealand's joint-highest run-scorer at the 2024 T20 World Cup, and wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze.

"I live with Georgia Plimmer. She's had a lot of tough times off the bat and then came out at that World Cup and did awesome," added Kerr. "She's a hard worker and wants to be great.

"Izzy Gaze has got real leadership capabilities. She's worked so hard with the gloves and she's pretty explosive with the bat and plays 360.

"There's a couple of names who will be New Zealand greats."