David Leggat: Oz at Eden Park true litmus test for NZ

New Zealand bowler Tim Southee celebrating with teammates after capturing his sixth wicket against England. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Consider a moment if England had beaten New Zealand yesterday; just an average, every-day defeat you understand, not even the sort of humiliation they themselves suffered in Wellington last night.

Ponder the nervous days that would have produced ahead of Saturday's showdown with Australia at Eden Park, the anticipation of which, be very sure, is likely to mushroom out of all proportion in the next seven days.

Bad wobbles before facing the Aussies? Grim omens, and so on.

So does the reverse apply?

Having given England the sort of, to use my son's word, "pantsing" they'd only have dreamed of yesterday, does it become a week of roaring "Bring on the Aussies!" on the back of last night's - make that yesterday afternoon's - performance?

All sorts of imagery dating back to February 22, 1992 will pour out. But this is different.

What's often forgotten about that opening game of the previous Australasian-hosted cup is that New Zealand weren't given much chance of foot-tripping the Australian swagger.

They'd been dusted 3-0 shortly beforehand by a far more competent England side than that which turned up in Wellington yesterday.

Instead, as Australian players from that 1992 game have since admitted, they underestimated New Zealand, figured they'd amble across the Tasman for their one away game, pick up the points, bid a cheery "see ya later guys" and march on to glory.

Australia are facing the prospect of a wet day in Brisbane today with the combined weight of cyclones Marcia and Lam bearing down, and a washout against Bangladesh. One point instead of the two they'd have factored into their planning.

So New Zealand have their noses in front, having given their run rate another substantial boost on the back of a cyclone called Brendon.

What the eight-wicket win certainly did was take New Zealand to Eden Park on a wave of confidence and optimism.

However, McCullum's squad are big on not getting too high, or low, as the vagaries of form and fate sway.

They would certainly have had a chuckle over the eating arrangements last night.

The sight of the players traipsing off with New Zealand needing 12 to win with 41 overs left was funniest/silliest sight of the cup thus far.

Imagine England lining up for their meal - "We've got three variety of pies tonight, lads, so what'll it be, chicken, mince or humble?" As they munched, they'd no doubt have reflected on events of the previous couple of hours.

Remember, there was an assumption that England, for all their woes, would be a decent matchup. They do have quality international players. But not enough, and nowhere near good enough to counter the respective skills of Tim Southee and McCullum.

Southee was magnificent in producing New Zealand's best ODI figures. That said, England fended, poked and misread lines. Dreadful.

Their bowlers then gave McCullum a pile of ammunition. If you deliver the ball on a good length to him, in his slot, it will disappear. End of. There seemed precious little variety. Discombobulated after their innings? No excuse.

Australia will be a different story. But they will have watched yesterday's game with interest.

They'll have noted England weren't much chop - that won't have surprised them - but also that their opponents at a packed Eden Park next weekend are going about their business mightily impressively.

If there is a concern it might be the nagging feeling that at some point, they'll get a flat tyre.

They have not, for example, been really tested by serious pace. That's just a few days away.

They haven't had opening batsmen going hard at them, as McCullum has been doing to others. That's around the corner, too.

There's any number of reasons to relish what lies ahead. A number of questions are likely to be answered, too.

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