STEPHEN FLEMING: Clash of styles creates intriguing and exciting contest
Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott all spent time in the middle, and the fact the middle and lower orders both got the chance to bat under pressure in a chase will stand everyone in good stead ahead of the sudden death action, even allowing for the fact that the level of pressure from hereon in will be of a completely different magnitude.
The need to start the quarter-final well is even more important from New Zealand’s perspective because of the weight of expectation that has been built up around this team – and rightly so because of its stellar recent performances.
The belief within the country is that the Black Caps can win the World Cup for the first time and if New Zealand’s one bad day were to come in this quarter-final or the semi-final then that would really burst the bubble of a great feel-good factor for the home audience.
As for the line-up for the match, the selection has been very consistent so far with colours nailed firmly to the mast right at the outset, that the eleven that started the tournament was the preferred option and only injury or a chronic loss of form would derail that line of thinking.
I cannot see that changing now and so on that basis the only issue to consider is, if Adam Milne has recovered from the shoulder injury that sidelined him against Bangladesh, whether he returns in place of Mitchell McClenaghan.
Otherwise it is very much as you were with the emphasis on Trent Boult and Tim Southee with the ball – and looking for swing, something the West Indies batsmen always appear susceptible against – and Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill and Kane 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.
I do not think commitment of that kind will be an issue against the West Indies as if you cannot be focused for a match like this then you will never be focused. And the captain and coach have the belief in the players, something that will breed confidence within the group.
Nerves will be there, of course they will. The fact New Zealand is three games away from lifting the World Cup for what would be the first time, as well as playing on home soil will be enough to generate those, you can be sure of that.
Maintaining the attitude and approach that has stood the Black Caps in such good stead over the past year or so should be enough to carry the day and night and book a semi-final spot. But against such an unpredictable side as the West Indies that has some fantastic match-winners then anything could happen. Which makes the match all the more exciting to contemplate.
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