This could be the most intriguing Trans Tasman cricket match ever.
The last time the two sides met in ODIs was the washed out Champions League match in Birmingham in 2103, and before that the 2011 Cricket World Cup encounter in Nagpur. A lot’s happened since.
Head coach Mike Hesson knows his team are up for it.
“It’s been a pretty lean opportunity to play against Australia recently, but the guys always enjoy it, I know the crowd will enjoy it, it should be a heck of a contest.
There’s certainly no baggage there, which I know is a good thing. Australia are a pretty formidable outfit but two sides going toe to toe in front of a full house… there’s nothing better,” said Hesson.
The players have had three days off after an intense opening week with three games in eight days and will reassemble in Auckland mid-week to build up to Saturday. Eden Park has long been sold out, and will host the largest cricket crowd in living memory.
The atmosphere at Westpac Stadium for the crushing win over England was electric, and the BLACKCAPS will count on the boost a noisy home crowd can offer.
“They guys enjoyed the England match, playing in front of a crowd that was so supportive, so hopefully we get the same in Auckland,” said Hesson.
Who knows? I think we’re going all right. It’s going to be a heck of a game and obviously Australia are playing pretty well too, so it will be a nice day to be a spectator.
Australia will present a different challenge to anything the BLACKCAPS have faced recently – much will be made of the face off between two exciting sets of batting talent and two of the best pace attacks in world cricket going head to head, as well as the contrasting styles in on-field communication between the teams.
“Their attack does it slightly differently to us, they’ve got a bit more pace and try to be a little bit intimidating in how they approach it with the ball, but we’ll just go about our work and prepare as best we can,” said Hesson.
New Zealand v Australia at Eden Park starts 2pm Saturday 28 February.
