The BLACKCAPS are assembled in Christchurch as the count down to ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 begins in earnest. After the ANZ ODI Series v Pakistan was wrapped up in Napier, the players and staff broke up for a couple of days at home before reassembling to prepare for the first match on Saturday v Sri Lanka.
The BLACKCAPS will play two official warm up matches:
1. BLACKCAPS v Zimbabwe, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, 11am 9 February
2. BLACKCAPS v South Africa, Hagley Oval, 11am 11 February
Both matches are free entry, people keen to go must register for tickets on the Cricket World Cup site.
The matches will be true warm ups, in that all 15 players in a squad can be used to bat or bowl through the match, the aim is to prepare the players for what lies ahead in the best way possible, with results largely irrelevant. Warm up matches will be covered though the ICC's match centre.
The ICC machine has rolled into town and started getting the venues ready for play, with temporary stands, media and sponsor's kit being rolled in and everything being checked and triple checked, ready for the big show.
The BLACKCAPS have been issued all their World Cup kit, and going though a series of tournament briefings, as well as fulfilling all their media duties and having official headshots taken, some of which you can see on the Vines below.
Brendon McCullum was the first captain to speak at a pre-tournament press conference and was quietly excited about the opportunity that lies ahead for his team:
"It's been a huge build up for us and it's been going pretty well leading up to this point in time, but once the World Cup starts, every team is on a clean slate and our boys are certainly enthusiastic about what the next month and a bit will bring. I know that everyone that's a part of the World Cup is going to enjoy it and those that follow the sport as well will get swept up in the whole competition and how it unfolds," said McCullum.
Any thoughts of the BLACKCAPS flying under the radar to assume their usual spot as dark horses went out the window with the two series wins this summer, let alone their form in all levels through 2014.
"Underdog or favourites is irrelevant once you get out on the ground - you both start on an even keel. We have a good on-paper team but games aren't won on paper, we know that, so we have to transfer the promise to performance on the field and we have to do it time and time again throughout the tournament," said McCullum.
The BLACKCAPS kick off the tournament proper on Valentine's Day v Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval, a fixture that's long been sold out. Everyone knows that getting off to a good start is vital in any tournament, and the team will hope home advantage plays a role.
"We've had some superb crowds right throughout the last year and some tremendous support form the people that follow this team. That's something that sits comfortably with us, and we've had to work pretty hard to win back the public's confidence and support as well, not just in the manner in which we play on the field, but the part in which we carry ourselves off the field plays a big part in endearing ourselves to the public as well.
"We're excited about going out there and testing our skills on the world stage in what will be a magnificent event - to be able to do it in front of our home is something that we're all looking forward to, so hopefully we can deliver," said McCullum.
