New Zealand is happy to go under the radar as it prepares to launch the campaign for World Cup glory against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Saturday.
The Black Caps reached the final four years ago for the first time after six semifinal defeats, only to be soundly beaten by Australia in Melbourne.
Kane Williamson has replaced the swashbuckling Brendon McCullum as captain but the core of the team that came so close in 2015 remains.
Rise
Since the last World Cup, New Zealand has risen as high as second in the world, but has also been beaten at home by South Africa, England and India.
New Zealand beat India in its opening World Cup warm-up game before going down to the West Indies.
Taylor has been in breathtaking ODI form in recent years, averaging over 60 in 2017 and more than 90 last year.
Williamson, ranked 12th, and Martin Guptill, ranked 10th, are the other dangermen in the batting line-up.
Trent Boult leads an impressive bowling attack, with Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee for company. Spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner offer useful variety.
“The way T20 cricket goes, it can come down to six or 12 runs at the end of it, and ODI cricket is becoming an extended version of T20 cricket in my opinion,” Boult said.
“If you can make those big 17 or 18-run overs into 12-run overs, that can make a big difference in the end. If we're clear on that, we can go a fair way in this tournament.”
The Kiwis start clear favourites in their opener against 1996 winner Sri Lanka, a side that has slumped to ninth in the rankings.
Newly-appointed captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who has returned to the ODI fold after four years, has been handed the responsibility of lifting a team that has lost eight of past nine ODIs.
But Sri Lanka has an impressive World Cup record, with one title, two runner-up finishes and one semifinal appearance.
Looking for stability
“Sri Lanka always find a way to do well in World Cups,” said former captain Mahela Jayawardene. “There have been some changes to the set-up. The captain himself hasn't played one-day cricket for a while, but he's a wonderful player.”
“They are trying to bring a bit more stability into the group. You still have some exciting talent — Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis. There are match-winners in that unit.”