Wright optimistic of strong World Cup performance

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John Wright: "You just have to get through the group phase ... then she's a one-off situation" © Getty Images Enlarge

John Wright, the New Zealand coach, has said he remains optimistic his team will put up a good show in the World Cup despite their poor performances in each of the three host countries over the past eight months. New Zealand also lost their recent six-match one-day series against Pakistan, at home.

In the World Cup, four teams out of each group of seven qualify for the quarter-finals, a format which Wright felt could work in New Zealand's favour. Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya are the minnows in New Zealand's group and finishing the league phase ahead of them will put New Zealand in the quarters.

"You just have to get through the group phase," Wright told Reuters. "We are playing teams that we have to beat, then we have got Sri Lanka, Australia and Pakistan and we have to try and get [results in] some of those games."

"That gets you to the next stage, then she's a one-off situation and that's exciting. Some of those teams have enormous pressure on them and if we put it together on the day, we can beat anyone."

New Zealand's squad fly out to India on Tuesday, and have warm-up fixtures against Ireland on the February 12 and India on the February 16, before the tournament starts on February 19.