It is one of the continually baffling mysteries of New Zealand cricket performance down through the ages that the same mistakes seem to keep repeating themselves.

New Zealand has surely played enough One-Day Internationals, 410 of them at last count, to know what is required in most given circumstances.

Yet, the same old problems keep on occurring.

The only countries with win percentages below New Zealand's are: Zimbabwe, Kenya, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Scotland, the Netherlands, Canada and East Africa. A worthy bunch.

But for a side with the playing skills on offer that New Zealand has, the infrastructure available and the scientific expertise developed through the High Performance Centre regarded as the best in the world, the results are well below par.

The New Zealanders go into the fourth ODI of their series in the West Indies tomorrow needing a victory to keep the series alive.

All this after one win in four games in Sharjah, and a clean sweep of losses in three matches at the hands of Pakistan. And this is a team regarded as a contender for next year's World Cup in South Africa.

It may well be, especially if Chris Cairns can regain his dominating influence.

And yes, it was said before the team left for the West Indies that there would be some experimentation with players.

However, it would be fair to expect that winning would be the first priority and then worry about the experimentation until later.

New Zealand continue to demonstrate a remarkable consistency at failing to make a good start.

They continue to push the strike rate when batting, despite the increase in the risk factor immediately after a wicket falls. This has to be the most vulnerable point for any team batting. Apart from the opposition naturally lifting themselves to deny a side rebuilding its position, there should be a natural desire to settle into a batting groove in order to prosper later.

Of course, this all very simple thinking goes out the window in the last 10 overs when the pressure is really on to score runs as quickly as possible. But it would be nice occasionally for New Zealand to get to the last 10 overs with wickets to spare.

It is ironic that at the time when the side is struggling to compete, captain Stephen Fleming has found a groove of consistency in his own scoring. Now he needs the experienced players around him to be producing as well.

Without Cairns and Andre Adams in the attack especially, New Zealand was always going to struggle, and as Shane Bond recovers from his foot injury, he could hardly be expected to hit his straps overnight. Then there is the requirement to keep the pressure off the back of Daniel Vettori.

But these are all considerations that most professional sporting teams cope with by the strength of their back-up resources.

It may be that the pain being gone through at the moment will provide greater reward come World Cup time, but the odds against it happening are high.

New Zealand's players are committing the same mistakes that have bedevilled the side for 20 years.

Inability to play consistently being at the top of the list, in all facets of the game. How often do New Zealand batsmen score as consistently as Andrew Jones used to manage in the late 80s and early 90s? It is an under-valued art, but it is the core around which a successful team is built.

Jones' strike-rate of 57.86 might not be considered excessively high, but his average of 35.69 is bettered by only: Bevan Congdon (56.33) in only 11 matches, Martin Crowe (38.55), Glenn Turner (47.00) and Roger Twose (38.81). But he was a rock around which others could play. Twose performed a similar role, even if over a shorter period of time.

That has to be the requirement for one member of the side before the World Cup. It might also ensure New Zealand doesn't continue to lose wickets, in the in-fashion word of last summer, 'clumps'. You don't have to be William Wordsworth to work out that 'clumps' are for chumps.

New Zealand is a marginally better team at home with a win record of 53.69% as opposed to a 27.48% record overseas. The lesson could not be clearer.

New Zealand must learn to win overseas, because that's where most World Cups are held.

Performing consistently with a much greater level of individual achievement would go a long way towards resolving New Zealand's declining record in ODIs.

© CricInfo