Friday 27 February 2015 23:36, UK
New Zealand’s group A game against Australia is a "pressure" contest, says Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum.
The winners of the match, which will be staged in front of 40,000 supporters at Auckland’s Eden Park, are almost certain to top pool A and strike a mental blow against their ‘local rivals’.
New Zealand have the edge on that front because Australia’s previous match against Bangladesh was washed out but McCullum played down the importance of tonight’s result on the potential rematch between the sides, who could again meet at Eden Park in the semi-finals.
The Black Caps comfortably beat Sri Lanka in their opening game but were nervous in their win over Scotland before a glittering return to form with a humiliation of England in Wellington in which McCullum scored the fastest fifty in World Cup history.
"Both teams, I'm sure are desperate to win," McCullum said. "I think midway through a tournament to get a significant victory over a very strong team is a huge confidence-booster.
"This tournament has got a long way to go and still a lot of pressure games coming. Tomorrow is one of those but I guess it's nothing more than that."
McCullum’s low-key approach is in sharp contrast to that of his opposite number, Australia skipper Michael Clarke, who described the fixture as a ‘local derby’ and talked up the great sporting rivalry between the two nations.
The Aussies were frustrated by the weather in Melbourne and had to make do with a single point after a rampant victory over England in their opening fixture and Clarke is keen to get back in action against one of the tournament’s highest-rated sides.
"We were ready to play against Bangladesh; that got washed out. We are ready to play here. If this game was to get washed out, we would be ready for the next game in Perth," Clarke said.
"I never read anything into who is favourite. New Zealand are playing in their own backyard, Australia are playing in their own backyard for the rest of the competition, it's about having success no matter where you play.
"To win the World Cup, you've got to beat the best opposition. This is going to be a great challenge for us tomorrow. We are excited by that.
"They are a really tough opposition. It's a local derby for Australia, New Zealand, and has that rivalry that I know both teams really enjoy in this and all sports."
Complacency will be India’s biggest enemy in the game against United Arab Emirates which follows the Eden Park showdown.
Pace bowler Mohammed Shami will miss the match with a slight knee injury but India remain strong favourites to build on their wins over Pakistan and South Africa despite being without their coach Duncan Fletcher, who is away at a family funeral.
India were well supported at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in their win over South Africa and should enjoy strong backing at the WACA in Perth, where Indian expatriates make up the third-highest number of foreign-born citizens after New Zealanders and South Africans.
"It gives us a great feeling that fans follow us, and give us so much importance," said opener Shikhar Dhawan said. "It gives us that extra edge."
World Cup holders India have been resurgent in this year’s tournament, comfortably beating Pakistan and South Africa after losing a Test series to Australia and failing to win a match in a one-day tri-series with Australia and England
India captain Mahendra Singh Dohni said the World Cup was the team's focus all along, which is why they won't be taking the UAE lightly.
"We wanted to give players more opportunities in the tri series to some extent," Dhoni said. "There were quite a few players who were injured, also, and we kept the intensity a bit low. But at the same time we knew with the World Cup right at the corner, this tournament was much more important to us."
Watch New Zealand v Australia from 12.30am and India v United Arab Emirates from 6.20am - initially on the red button - on Sky World Cup.
