BLACKCAPS skipper Brendon McCullum was calm and composed today ahead of the biggest game of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, the head to head with with Australia at Eden Park.
The 33-year-old indicated an unchanged XI would take the field for the fourth successive game with Tim Southee shrugging off a minor shoulder complaint after he was hit in fielding training yesterday.
Southee picked up career best figures of 7-33 last week against England to help the BLACKCAPS to an emphatic eight wicket win and McCullum expected him to come out firing.
“I asked him if he managed to get one in the leg as well because he managed to go down which I couldn’t quite work out,” said McCullum, tongue firmly in cheek.
It's been a big week leading into this match with a number of opportunities to meet the fans.
“He is fine, he managed to bowl quite well today and we are going to play the same team as well.”
McCullum said it was an easy decision for him and BLACKCAPS coach Mike Hesson to stick with the same side after three wins from as many games.
“The guys have really stood up in the last little while, the combinations have been working and the structure of the tournament where we have been able to have a break and freshen up some of the guys has helped as well. It’s hard on the guys who are not playing, but they are completely committed to the group as well and they will get their chance at some stage in the tournament.”
The veteran of 243 ODIs, at an average of 30.63 for New Zealand, said there were no real nerves in the Kiwi camp and the boys are in a “really good space” after a successful campaign so far.
“We have been playing some good cricket of late. We are living the dream really; playing a World Cup in our home country. Tomorrow there is going to be 40,000 odd people, we are playing against Australia, it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Everyone in New Zealand is talking cricket and there is fever pitch hype around this fixture, but McCullum said his boys are coping well with those demands and that pressure.
“We knew that was going to be the case, especially if we started well, and we planned for that a long time ago. I feel like the guys are in a good space. I don’t think that they will be overawed.”
There has been a lot of talk about who goes into the contest, which will decide the winner of Pool A, as the favourite or the underdog but McCullum wasn’t interested.
“Favourites or underdogs it is irrelevant when the game gets underway tomorrow. We are very respectful of a good Australian team. They are a formidable side and they have an exceptional record at World Cups. Under Darren Lehman they have become a very strong team with a lot of match winners throughout. That is what we are up against but we are trying to execute our game and if we do that then we will be hard to beat.”
McCullum stressed that while both teams will be desperate to win tomorrow that there is still a long way to go in the tournament with a number of pressure games coming up.
Even with the recent controversy around Michael Clarke and Darren Lehman, he has no doubt that the Australian camp will be settled and at their best.
“Michael Clarke is the leader of the Australian cricket team. I think we saw in the tragic passing of Phil Hughes we saw how strong a leader he is. We are very respectful of that. I think they are stronger with his inclusion in the side.”
McCullum rejected the notion that a win tomorrow against the old foe would provide the self-belief that they can go all the way in this ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
“We have that belief anyway. We will need a bit of luck along the way. When it gets to quarterfinal, semi-final or final stage, there are match winners throughout every side.
“The points that are on offer tomorrow are no different to the ones that were on offer against Sri Lanka, Scotland and England. It is a big game and it’s going to be a really enjoyable atmosphere to be part of. I am sure guys are going to remember this game for a long time.”
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: BLACKCAPS v Australia at Eden Park from 2pm.
