New Zealand will be confident and they have every right to be after six straight wins in the tournament, the latest of which, against Bangladesh, helped fill in a few pieces of the jigsaw that, up to this point, we had been wondering about.
Williamson with the bat to set the tone for those that follow.McCullum did indicate post-match against Bangladesh that he was not entirely content with the level of focus in the field in Hamilton and he has said on numerous occasions in the past that for his team to compete at the very highest end of the spectrum it has to be saving every possible run and holding every possible catch.New Zealand walk into its first knockout game of the tournament wearing a settled look, the only doubt being whether Adam Milne, the fast bowler, would recover from a shoulder injury soon enough to reclaim his place, currently being filled by Mitchell McClenaghan.
There is a burning intensity to the New Zealand Cricket team at the moment. And it is the incandescent Brendon McCullum who is fanning the flames, having poured the fuel and lit the fire just in time for the ICC Cricket World Cup.New Zealand has looked vulnerable when McCullum has been dismissed early, and there is an element of risk to its all-out aggressive approach with the ball. When there has been swing – and it’s hard to recall a New Zealand game where there has been absolutely nothing for the quick bowlers – McCullum attacks from start to finish.New Zealand to hit the ground running in Wellington, whether that is with the bat or with the ball and in the field, and not give Jason Holder's side any time to settle.
The West Indies losses to Ireland and South Africa earlier in the tournament and the way they folded in those matches suggested a side that still has scars of the recent off-field ructions and, in the face of that atmosphere, they are a line-up that can cave in under pressure more quickly than a team like the Black Caps that appears to have great togetherness.The Windies have had trouble bowling out the good sides so far this tournament. But their skipper has at least been positive and tried to lead from the front. Best known for being on the end of an AB de Villiers batting assault, he still possesses a real threat with his bounce and movement. He took four wickets in their last game against UAE.West Indies was in a less comfortable position, and the sight of Chris Gayle rocking up for training the day before the game, and hitting the ball hard enough to take out a picket fence at the Basin Reserve would have brought some comfort. Jason Holder, the young West Indies captain, would not speculate on how big a chance there was of Gayle missing out, but confirmed that a final decision could only be made on match morning.
Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles/Dwayne Smith, Marlon Samuels, Jonathan Carter, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Darren Sammy, Andre Russell, Jason Holder (c), Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach/Sulieman Benn.
Williamson with the bat to set the tone for those that follow.McCullum did indicate post-match against Bangladesh that he was not entirely content with the level of focus in the field in Hamilton and he has said on numerous occasions in the past that for his team to compete at the very highest end of the spectrum it has to be saving every possible run and holding every possible catch.New Zealand walk into its first knockout game of the tournament wearing a settled look, the only doubt being whether Adam Milne, the fast bowler, would recover from a shoulder injury soon enough to reclaim his place, currently being filled by Mitchell McClenaghan.
See Quarter Finals Schedule
There is a burning intensity to the New Zealand Cricket team at the moment. And it is the incandescent Brendon McCullum who is fanning the flames, having poured the fuel and lit the fire just in time for the ICC Cricket World Cup.New Zealand has looked vulnerable when McCullum has been dismissed early, and there is an element of risk to its all-out aggressive approach with the ball. When there has been swing – and it’s hard to recall a New Zealand game where there has been absolutely nothing for the quick bowlers – McCullum attacks from start to finish.New Zealand to hit the ground running in Wellington, whether that is with the bat or with the ball and in the field, and not give Jason Holder's side any time to settle.
Watch Today's ICC Cricket World Cup Quarter Finals Match - 4 : New Zealand vs West Indies Online HD Live Streaming
The West Indies losses to Ireland and South Africa earlier in the tournament and the way they folded in those matches suggested a side that still has scars of the recent off-field ructions and, in the face of that atmosphere, they are a line-up that can cave in under pressure more quickly than a team like the Black Caps that appears to have great togetherness.The Windies have had trouble bowling out the good sides so far this tournament. But their skipper has at least been positive and tried to lead from the front. Best known for being on the end of an AB de Villiers batting assault, he still possesses a real threat with his bounce and movement. He took four wickets in their last game against UAE.West Indies was in a less comfortable position, and the sight of Chris Gayle rocking up for training the day before the game, and hitting the ball hard enough to take out a picket fence at the Basin Reserve would have brought some comfort. Jason Holder, the young West Indies captain, would not speculate on how big a chance there was of Gayle missing out, but confirmed that a final decision could only be made on match morning.
Click here to watch Chris Gayle smash 16 sixes against Zimbabwe
New Zealand vs West Indies Head to Head in World Cup:
Played 6, New Zealand 3, West Indies 3
Teams for New Zealand vs West Indies:
New Zealand:
Brendon McCullum (c), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi (wk), Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Adam Milne/Mitchell McClenaghan.West Indies:
Chris Gayle, Johnson Charles/Dwayne Smith, Marlon Samuels, Jonathan Carter, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Darren Sammy, Andre Russell, Jason Holder (c), Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach/Sulieman Benn.
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