3 November - Bengaluru - New Zealand player Daryl Mitchell pre-match press conference
[Reporter:]
It's been a fantastic World Cup for you as far as this year is concerned. As far as next match is concerned, what are your priorities? Because it's a do or die situation for Pakistan. And they are very much confident, their director was saying that we look after all the aspects where we can do much better in the next match. So, what is your strategy for the next match to go ahead?
[Daryl Mitchell:]
Look, for us, every game in this tournament is vitally important. They're all worth two points. And for us, again, it's just showing up and playing the black-cap style of cricket that we want to play. And I'm sure if we can control those little things and do them for long periods of time, then we'll go a long way to getting some outcomes which we want, which will hopefully mean we're in the mix coming into the tournament. But yeah, we won't make it bigger than what it is. We'll just keep doing what Kiwis do and we'll see what happens.
[Reporter:]
You have played a lot of cricket against Pakistan in recent times. How do you see Pakistan as opponents, especially in a situation where their backs are towards the wall?
[Daryl Mitchell:]
Look, they're a world-class team and they have been for a long time. Yes, we've played a lot of cricket against them, which is awesome for us. We loved touring Pakistan a few months ago and to be able to take them on here now in the World Cup's cool.
So, look, for us as Kiwis, we love playing the best in the world. That's why you play international cricket and we're looking forward to it.
[Reporter:]
We had two games here in Bangalore. One was a run fest and one was - the bowlers came into it in a big way. So having a look at the pitch there, what do you expect and, you know, are you looking forward to hitting a lot of sixes because you've been really great at that.
[Daryl Mitchell:]
We just got to the ground now, so I haven't had a chance to look at the wicket yet, but we've obviously got training after this, so yeah, we know what this ground's like, we know the dimensions and what the wicket can be like, but we also know within tournament cricket, pitches can vary from time to time, depending on times of preparation and things like that between games. So, for us, it's just adapting as quick as we can and making sure we communicate that with each other. And hopefully we do it quicker than the opposition and it gives us a good chance.
[Reporter:]
Looking at tomorrow's game, how crucial is it in terms of qualification for the semis?
Do you think that everyone in the team has got enough game time and also with that being a concern, do you think we can find the likes of (Kyle) Jamieson getting a nod tomorrow?
[Daryl Mitchell:]
Look, I think we back everyone within our squad to do a job. That's one thing we pride ourselves on and I guess you can see with the schedule that we've had over the last 12-24 months a lot of guys have had opportunities. So, I know that we back everyone if they get the chance to do a job for the team with that silver fan on their chest and I know as a group we're really excited
[Reporter:]
Do you think for a World Cup that like that lasts 40 plus days. so, a score of 15 players is enough for the teams or do you think there should be more players in the squad?
[Daryl Mitchell:]
Look, for me that's above my pay grade. I'm just happy to be here and to be part of this World Cup and that's for the powers above to decide. Obviously, the conditions here are pretty warm compared to what we're used to as Kiwis back home. It's a bit colder at home at the moment. But yeah, look, that's not for me to say.
[Reporter:]
Some of your key players are not fit yet. Jamieson is also cold and what about the Kane (Williamson)? Is he available for tomorrow's match and how it's affect your team for the match against Pakistan?
[Daryl Mitchell:]
Look, we've obviously got training this afternoon and a number of guys have got to get through fitness tests and pass that and we probably won't know till tonight and tomorrow morning how they pull up from that, but yeah for us, we back everyone within our squad to have success and do a job for the team.
We’re all pretty clear on the roles that we're going to play if given the opportunities and yeah, we'll just go out there get stuck in as Kiwis do and hope we come around the right side.
[Reporter:]
You had four wins out of four, and then three successive losses, and you have missing key players because of injuries and stuff. So how hard is it to gain the momentum in this crucial part of the tournament.
[Daryl Mitchell:]
One thing we do as Kiwis is we stay pretty grounded. We stay where our feet are, and injuries are things that we can't control. All I know is that the 11 guys that will take the field tomorrow will be very proud to represent our country and get stuck in a World Cup. And yeah, we won't, as I said earlier, we won't make it bigger than what it is. It's another two points for this tournament, which is important for us in the big scheme of things, but we'll just keep playing like Black Caps and Kiwis do, and I'm sure we'll come a long way to winning the game.
[Reporter:]
Bangalore is known for its traffic. Have you guys had a taste of that while getting to the games? And we have a rain prediction coming around for the game as well. One eye on the skies ahead of tomorrow?
[Daryl Mitchell:]
Yeah, first on the traffic, my family arrived, my two little girls and my wife arrived last night and they got stuck in the traffic coming to the hotel, so we know about that. But look, yeah, again, weather is something you can't control. I guess you don't really expect it to rain in India, so we'll just show up being ready to go to get stuck in and yeah, what will be will be.
[Reporter:]
In response to a couple of questions you mentioned the blackcaps way of playing and play the way Kiwis do, how exactly would you define that?
[Daryl Mitchell:]
That's probably for you guys to work out and decide yourselves. Look, we're a small country, down the bottom of the earth, and for us it's fighting for every ball, chasing every ball to the boundary, and doing the little things that we can control. The big stuff will look after itself if we’re clear on our roles, very detailed with how we go about our business, and you can work out our blueprint and our plan from that.
But yeah, we're just very proud to represent our country and get stuck in the World Cup and you'll see that by the passion and the way the guys throw themselves around out in the field.
[Reporter:]
There is a cap on a 15-member squad. Now you are suffering so many injuries out there. So, what do you feel? Because there's a lot of noise coming around that more team members should be declared.
[Daryl Mitchell:]
Yeah, look, for us, again, that's not my decision to make. That's for the bosses above to make those decisions. For us, we're stoked to be playing in the World Cup and to be representing our country. And whether the next one has more players, less players, more games, less games, that's not for me to decide. But us as players are really proud to represent our country and I know that everyone within the squad is looking forward to tomorrow.
[Reporter:]
How challenging would it be for your side to bounce back from a massive defeat in the previous game?
[Daryl Mitchell:]
Yeah, again you play to win games of cricket, and it's nice to win games. But for us, it's making sure we do what we do best. And we're not outcome focused. We never will be. We'll control the things that we can control. And that stuff will take care of itself if we keep doing our jobs. That's what we do as Black Caps and as Kiwis and it seems to have worked for a number of years now and we'll just keep doing what we do and we'll see what happens.
