CAN BEN STOKE ENGLAND'S FIRE?

Just over two years since a defeat by Bangladesh in Adelaide sealed their embarrassing first-round exit from the 2015 World Cup, England face the Tigers in the Champions Trophy opener at The Oval on Thursday with genuine optimism they can at last win a first major one-day international tournament.

"At a very early age, before he left New Zealand, he started showing signs he could develop into a very good cricketer. He had an instinctive technique and style of play -- it was very basic, almost 'see ball, hit ball,” father Ged Stokes said.

On his day, and in the right conditions, he can also be an effective right-arm swing bowler.

But in age where all bowlers can get 'collared' in white-ball cricket, Stokes suffered when, having to defend 19 in the last over of the 2016 World Twenty20 final in Kolkata, he was hit for four successive sixes by Carlos Brathwaite.

England's hope is that this remains his lone 'nightmare' spell with the ball, with Stokes resilient enough to absorb the experience.

TAYLOR LOOKING BEYOND SECOND PLACE

Ross Taylor's status as one of New Zealand's greats does not count as much as team records for the batsman who lists "any time it's a world tournament" as his cricket priority.

Leaving a legacy of being second is not something the 33-year-old wants.

In 87 years of international cricket since New Zealand played their first Test in 1930, the only tournament they have won was when they beat India in the 2000 Champions Trophy final.

When asked to name his career highlights ahead of his fourth Champions Trophy, Taylor, who debuted six years after that win, said: "Beating Australia 3-0 in the Chappell-Hadlee in 2007, the last World Cup was pretty special and making the final of the (2009) Champions Trophy was a highlight," he said.

Taylor senses this New Zealand side can put the runners-up tag to bed.

"The players have played together for so long now we know each other so well. Our depth is probably our strength," he said.

“But we need to start well. We have two hard matches straight up against Australia and England and if we don't start well the tournament's over."