Our success inspired by Black Caps: Morgan

Captain Eoin Morgan admits England's renaissance in limited overs cricket was partly inspired by their World Twenty20 semi-final opponents New Zealand.

A year ago the Black Caps finished runners-up at the World Cup, dealing in an imaginative, aggressive style of cricket that left England looking outgunned on power and outdated in approach.

But when Peter Moores was ousted as head coach, the levee finally broke and the one-day side was flooded with fresh faces and a new outlook.

New Zealand, and neighbours Australia, were now the benchmark - one that was met quicker than anyone imagined last summer when England won a thrilling ODI series against the Black Caps 3-2 on home soil as well as the sole T20 by 56 runs.

It was a transformative moment for the squad, creating a bond and belief that lives on in their surge to Wednesday's semi-final against New Zealand in Delhi.

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"I've been asked the question after every series that we've played, and I can't quite believe how far we've come overall in our white-ball cricket," Morgan said.

"I think that New Zealand series was very important. We'd talked about emulating what Australia and New Zealand did at that World Cup.

"From where we were to where they were ... we were miles away.

"In order to bridge the gap we had to try and emulate the fashion in which they played."

The New Zealand side that Morgan’s men have sought to emulate are considering the merits of dusting off pace spearheads Trent Boult and Tim Southee for the semi-final clash.

The pair didn't play in any of the Kiwis’ four group stage wins, choosing to base their attack around spin with support from less credentialed seamers Mitchell McClenaghan and Adam Milne.

The policy has served them well: NZ remain the only undefeated side in the tournament but captain Kane Williamson says their strategy could change on Wednesday in Delhi, on a pitch where any turn has been gentle.

"They're very much ready to go," Williamson said of Boult and Southee.

"We still haven't decided on a side but we will be looking closely at conditions and the history of what the wicket's produced and try and pick our best side.

"We've simply tried to pick horses for courses, our best team for the conditions against the opposition at any given time and that certainly won't change."

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England have opted to play four quicks in their two matches at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground and perhaps hold an advantage with their recent experience at the venue.

The Black Caps have hopped from venue to venue for every match and are yet to play in Delhi but Williamson played down the impact of their hectic schedule.

"It's great. We've been able to see more of India than most opposition sides," he said.

"I suppose England have been fortunate to play in these conditions a couple of times but I think in Twenty20 cricket anything can happen.

"I think it's almost impossible to give someone the favourites tag in T20 cricket."