The countdown has begun to the biggest game of the Cricket World Cup so far - but the arrival of our rivals from across the Ditch was quieter than they had planned last night.
The Australian team have five days to mentally prepare and train before they take on their fellow tournament host country New Zealand at Auckland's Eden Park on Saturday.
They arrived at Auckland Airport last night and had planned to walk through the public arrival gate. Wicket-keeper Brad Haddin was to address waiting media.
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But less than six hours before their arrival, Cricket Australia canned the public walk-through, saying that International Cricket Council protocols meant they had to be "processed airside".
It is understood the team hadn't checked the ICC's rules before arranging the stand-up.
The team's media manager, Kate Hutchison, said after the team had stepped off the plane: "We're all present and accounted for. We've arrived safely."
After processing, the team were whisked to the 4.5-star Heritage Hotel in central Auckland where there were no fans waiting.
A member of the public asked the small pool of waiting reporters if they were waiting outside the hotel for the Foo Fighters, who played in Auckland on Saturday night.
The only people who took photos were two Armourguard staffers who were working nearby as the players got out of the bus.
The team, including captain Michael Clarke, went inside the hotel, before Haddin emerged finally to address media, saying they would have to "bring our A game to compete".
He said New Zealand had "dangerous batters and bowlers who are on form".
Saturday's clash is the only pool game in New Zealand for the Australian team. The MetService forecast doesn't look promising with showers and northeasterlies expected.
Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan in their Pool A game in Dunedin yesterday.
A crowd of 2711 watched at the University Oval and Inspector Steve McGregor said the crowd enjoyed a relaxed atmosphere.
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