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Home / Sport / Cricket / Cricket World Cup

Cricket World Cup: Captains cool but we want a belter

By David Leggat
Reporter·NZ Herald·
27 Feb, 2015 04:00 PM4 mins to read

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Can Black Cap Tim Southee repeat his career-best seven-for-33 against England in the Cricket World Cup?. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Can Black Cap Tim Southee repeat his career-best seven-for-33 against England in the Cricket World Cup?. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Black Caps’ stirring build-up has NZ purring with hopes of seeing preview of final

If you raise a pair of binoculars you might peer ahead and see today's eagerly-awaited Cricket World Cup clash as a possible prelude to the March 29 final in Melbourne.

But your name won't be B. McCullum or M. Clarke.

New Zealand have been impressing by keeping a sensible approach, not getting ahead of themselves.

"It's not life or death; it's just a game of cricket," Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum said yesterday. "The tournament still has a long way to go, there's a lot of pressure games coming up. Tomorrow is one of those. It's nothing more than that."

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Should he have a chat with his Australian counterpart, they'll find they are of like minds.

Asked if he thought today's encounter could be repeated at the end of March, Michael Clarke replied: "I've absolutely no idea. I'll worry about tomorrow first. I hope I'm worrying about the final in a month's time."

Smart play, both men. Today will offer a degree of bragging rights, and perhaps a dollop of extra feel-good about the way they're travelling at the moment, plus hopefully a rattling good transtasman contest.

New Zealand will be top of group A tonight, irrespective of the result, courtesy of Australia's washout with Bangladesh a week ago.

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Australia will fancy themselves against any team in the game right now; New Zealand probably have a similar take on the situation after a build-up which has the country purring and expectations rapidly rising.

If you're of a nervous disposition, the thought that New Zealand are due a shortening-up might be surfacing.

Certainly Australia will present challenges unlike any New Zealand have seen off in the last few months from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England.

But McCullum put New Zealand on the front foot yesterday, confirming the same XI from the last three games. No surprises there, but it speaks of a confidence in the group.

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"We're playing good cricket, living the dream really. Tomorrow will be a great event, 40,000-odd, against Australia. It doesn't get much better," McCullum said.

For all the anticipation over the opening tussles - with bat and ball for both teams - the two sides bat deep. Should things go pear-shaped early, there will be an assurance that those to come will do the job.

Tim Southee comes into the match on the back of his career-best seven for 33 against England. Along with Trent Boult, his fingers should be twitching over the breakfast table today at what the day holds.

McCullum spoke yesterday about the need for smart thinking over the right lengths on the oddly shaped Eden Park. The straight boundaries are a gentle dink away, but the square ropes, while respectable, aren't huge.

"If you focus too much bowling that back of a length, there are players capable of playing horizontal shots to good effect."

Pugnacious opener David Warner has not had special attention - "They've got matchwinners right through the line-up and all present different challenges. He's a dangerous player but so are Aaron Finch, Steven Smith and Michael Clarke.

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"We have to make sure we execute the plans we want to, and if someone gets away we have plans to shut them down." Just as the Aussies are sure to have, too.

Both skippers said nice things about each other's team. Mutual respect was frequently raised. That's all well and good, but a pumped-up full house today will be thirsting for a rousing match. They've a decent chance to get it too.

Garden of Eden

New Zealand v Australia
Overall: P 125, Australia won 85, NZ won 34, N/R 6.

At Eden Park v Australia
Played: 16, Australia won 11, NZ won 5

At Eden Park overall
Played: 68, NZ won 29, lost 34, tied 2, N/R 3

Since 2010
Played: 8, NZ won 1, lost 5, tied 1, N/R 1

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New Zealand v Australia
Eden Park, 2pm today

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (c), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi, Dan Vettori, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.

Australia (probable): Michael Clarke (c), David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood.

For more coverage of the Cricket World Cup and Black Caps from nzherald.co.nz and NZME., check out #CricketFever.

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