The first 10 overs of batting from Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill at Hagley Oval was as good as you'd get.
It was flawless, dominant and importantly they did it in the first piece of action in the tournament. It was as if they were sending a statement along the lines of "this is the way we're going to go about our business".
McCullum is clearly going to look to intimidate the opposition.
We have other guys who, if McCullum doesn't come off, can front. We saw that when we lost two wickets in two balls.
New Zealand already had the run rate up with what had been done earlier in the innings.
Corey Anderson and Grant Elliott showed maturity and didn't lose a wicket in the power play.
That's all about adjusting to a game situation that had changed slightly. By doing what they did in that little block, New Zealand were able to go again.
From there, Anderson and Luke Ronchi finished things off with quality power hitting.
New Zealand's fielding was sharp, as was Australia's, and I liked that McCullum brought Dan Vettori on for the 11th over, nice and early. That's a touch of the sort of innovation I like to see from the skipper.
It can have the effect of keeping the opposition batsmen thinking, not letting them settle.
I would imagine there will be changes against Scotland tomorrow and with their first three games in seven days that makes sense. The England selection will be interesting for next Friday night in Wellington.
Kyle Mills bowled particularly well and economically against Pakistan at Westpac Stadium on a slowish pitch recently. Food for thought for coach Mike Hesson and McCullum.
I've heard people talk of England as dark horses. Pretty dark right now, I'd say, after that beating at the MCG on Saturday night.
I worked with England batsman James Taylor at their academy a few seasons back. He was a bright talent, unorthodox but there was plenty to like about his game. He was stranded on 98 against Australia but he's made the ideal start to his cup campaign.
New Zealand should beat England on Friday night. They are playing good, assertive, confident cricket.
As for Australia, I was intrigued by allrounder Mitchell Marsh's bowling performance. As fourth seamer he hit the pitch hard and finished with five for 33.
He epitomises Australia's approach. Get stuck in and go hard. Indeed, very similar to what we've come to see from New Zealand.
Eden Park, February 28 is already shaping as a titanic transtasman contest.
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