Cricket World Cup 2015: Title favourites New Zealand and Australia clash today

By Chetan Narula

AUCKLAND: There is a happy buzz about Auckland as Eden Park prepares for a re-match from the 1992 World Cup, when the tournament was first here. The Kiwis had hosted Australia in the opening game, winning by 37 runs—a shocker back then. They host their trans-Tasman rivals again on Saturday. Only this time, a win wouldn’t be quite as shocking. Co-hosts New Zealand and Australia both started well enough, beating Sri Lanka and England, respectively.

A little has changed since. The Black Caps are on a roll, beating Scotland and then mauling the English at Wellington, while the Aussies have been on ice—their second game against Bangladesh was washed out. This match then—built up during the past month as the clash of title-favourites—is between a team on a roll and one that’s a bit under-cooked. Surely, Aussie skipper Michael Clarke would have loved to get a game in before facing a title rival and co-host.

Not that Australia can be taken lightly—not even if they haven’t played for 14 weeks, let alone 14 days. They have, arguably, the most complete squad in the World Cup. Their top-order—David Warner and Aaron Finch—is explosive and their middle-order— Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and George Bailey (barring Shane Watson)— has been in terrific form. They bat deep, up to number eight—with Mitchell Marsh, Brad Haddin and James Faulkner—the hallmark of any dominant ODI side.

And their bowling attack boasts of four bowlers — Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins—who clock 145kmph. Simply put, they are the team to beat, rushing towards a record fifth world title. Clarke's return from injury could work both ways—be an inspirational leader that he is or upset a wellset applecart. An intriguing undercurrent that sets up a captaincy battle. For, on the other side sits Brendon McCullum in red-hot form.

In the past year or so, McCullum has inspired a turn-around. With him at one end, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor lay the foundation for Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliott to take off at the other. Their bowling attack has the most threatening new-ball pair today in Trent Boult and Tim Southee.

They might not have express pace, but they’ve gotten the ball to dance around. The Kiwis also have an edge in the spin department with 36-year-old Daniel Vettori turning back time two very impressive performances. Control, then, will be the key on Saturday as a sell-out crowd of 40,000 will play the part of the extra man for New Zealand. The Aussies know a thing or two about hostile crowds, but pressure works in strange ways.