Lizzie marvels after getting call-up to sing NZ anthem

Singer Lizzie Marvelly plans to hit the New Zealand national anthem out of the park at the World Cup final in Melbourne tomorrow. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Kiwi classical-turned-pop singer Lizzie Marvelly will get to merge both of her loves after being chosen to sing the New Zealand national anthem at tomorrow's Cricket World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Marvelly, who has sung the anthem at more than 20 rugby and league games, said she was the captain of her King's College 1st XI cricket team during her time at the Auckland school.

"This is pretty huge. I think the only bigger live crowd that I have performed to would be the Warriors Grand Final in 2011 [Sydney], but this is very exciting and as a former 1st XI captain at high school, it's even more exciting," she said.

The 25-year-old, who was born in Rotorua and now lives in Auckland, started playing Kiwi cricket at age 7.

She said tomorrow would be her first time singing at a cricket match, which compounded her nervousness even more.

"It's one of those events that the honour is ever-present, it never really diminishes and the nerves are pretty up there as well but it's very exciting. I'm very grateful to have the opportunity."

Marvelly has been following New Zealand's cricket games for most of her life and is proud of how the side has stepped up for the World Cup.

"I hope that they win. But even just getting to this stage is such an incredible achievement."

One of those hoping to join her across the Ditch is her father, who she said was overjoyed to discover she was off to Melbourne.

"My dad will probably pull some kind of magic feat of flying over the Tasman somehow, maybe on a magic carpet; he really wants to see the game. I think he felt that if he couldn't have a son who could play for the All Blacks or the Black Caps then this was the next best thing," she quipped.

Marvelly, who put out her third album, Collisions, last year, said she found out only yesterday that she had been chosen for the illustrious gig, and expected to fly to Melbourne this morning.