Final - New Zealand v Australia (29th March)

[Zinzan]

I find it hard to believe people in Australia don't care about this game. Tests mean much more, sure. However an ODI world cup is not a small deal even for serious fans and players.

Nah Dan is spot on from what I've heard. Seems many of the Australian public either aren't all that up for this game or really think it would be good for the game if NZ actually win. Obviously hard-core Aussie cricket fans would think differently.

It's a bigger deal for NZ than it is to Aust by many many magnitudes.

 

[Days of Grace]

So today's the big day. Got Star Sports hooked up and an HDMI cable and a Kiwi, an Aussie, and a Pom coming over to watch the game with me. 12:30pm start here so pretty much a late breakfast and straight into it. Can't imagine waiting till 4:30pm like most of the NZ posters.

I've supported the Black Caps since, well, way before they were known as the Black Caps. My first series watching cricket was in late 1993 when we got trounced by Australia. I've supported them when people were embarrassed to talk about them. I watched through the night when we won the test series in West Indies last year before going to work. I was up at 2am in my dorm's lounge back in 2000 when we won the ICC knockout. But this is the World Cup Final, the biggest game in New Zealand cricket's history, hell, maybe even New Zealand sporting history. Because for once cricket has taken over from rugby as the hottest topic in town. The country has basically come to a standstill.

I reckon it's 70/30 to Australia but this team is so well led and has such confidence that anything can happen. GO BLACK CAPS!!!

 

[Fuller Pilch]

True, I suppose the other thing & I thought about this the other day seeing how accepting the SA public were to their team bowing out in the semi is that when it comes to NZ rugby, we DO NOT accept anything but the world cup crown. I told a South African mate the other day that the SA cricketing public are a lot more forgiving than the NZ rugby public are. But if NZ don't get up today, they'll still be heroes in our eyes. This would never happen if our rugby team were losing finalists.

We were forgiving in 1995 after the All Blacks were losing finalists after being absolutely magnificent in that World Cup.

I still haven't forgiven Suzie the waitress for food poisoning us though, or Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon for making that terrible movie

 

[BeeGee]

strangely calm. nothing can scare me after the semi.

Yeah, me too. I was far more nervous for the QF and SF. Not making it past the SF (again) would have been very disappointing given this is the best team we've ever sent to a WC.

Just going to enjoy the ride tonight. Bring it on baby!!

 

[Zinzan]

was thinking this morning that the aus v nz TV ratings will be mighty close

Yup, agree. Especially considering it's being broadcast on free-to-air TV here in NZ.

 

[Pratters]

Nah Dan is spot on from what I've heard. Seems many of the Australian public either aren't all that up for this game or really think it would be good for the game if NZ actually win. Obviously hard-core Aussie cricket fans would think differently.

It's a bigger deal for NZ than it is to Aust by many many magnitudes.

It is a big deal for New Zealand. It would be important for the Steve Smiths and Mitchell Johnsons too. As far as proper Aussie fans go, they may not mind New Zealand winning as it's good for the game. It's a world cup though and it does matter to win it even though it's far lower in priorities than say the Ashes or some other tests.

 

[viriya]

Using my expert body language analysis skills, I can confidently point out that Baz having his arm over Clarke signifies alpha male dominance. This is undoubtedly going to be followed by him running rampart on the poor Aussie bowlers as a true wild man would.

 

[Zinzan]

So today's the big day. Got Star Sports hooked up and an HDMI cable and a Kiwi, an Aussie, and a Pom coming over to watch the game with me. 12:30pm start here so pretty much a late breakfast and straight into it. Can't imagine waiting till 4:30pm like most of the NZ posters.

I've supported the Black Caps since, well, way before they were known as the Black Caps. My first series watching cricket was in late 1993 when we got trounced by Australia. I've supported them when people were embarrassed to talk about them. I watched through the night when we won the test series in West Indies last year before going to work. I was up at 2am in my dorm's lounge back in 2000 when we won the ICC knockout. But this is the World Cup Final, the biggest game in New Zealand cricket's history, hell, maybe even New Zealand sporting history. Because for once cricket has taken over from rugby as the hottest topic in town. The country has basically come to a standstill.

I reckon it's 70/30 to Australia but this team is so well led and has such confidence that anything can happen. GO BLACK CAPS!!!

Great work DOG. No doubt you and the Pom mate will be ganging up against the Aussie !!

 

[NUFAN]

I am with Imran on this.]

You agree with him on everything don't ya?

Cricinfo made a combined XI

1 Guptill
2 McCullum
3 Smith
4 Taylor
5 Maxwell
6 Anderson
7 Haddin
8 Vettori
9 Starc
10 Boult
11 Hazlewood

 

[Zinzan]

We were forgiving in 1995 after the All Blacks were losing finalists after being absolutely magnificent in that World Cup.

I still haven't forgiven Suzie the waitress for food poisoning us though, or Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon for making that terrible movie

Fair point on that '95 team, that was a bit of an exception because of the food poisoning, but even then, I still don't think we were nearly as forgiving and supportive as the SA public were this week.

Btw, I can't bring myself to watch that movie and have never been able to watch a replay of that '95 game again.

 

[kiwiviktor81]

You agree with him on everything don't ya?

Cricinfo made a combined XI

1 Guptill
2 McCullum
3 Smith
4 Taylor
5 Maxwell
6 Anderson
7 Haddin
8 Vettori
9 Starc
10 Boult
11 Hazlewood

Can't disagree with any of that.

 

[Howsie]

Oh and as a Kiwi fan if you're not fired up yet just read Ian Chappel's lastest peice. FMD, we'll be lucky to get within 500 runs going by him.

 

[nevermind]

Still can't believe its happening. Australia vs New Zealand. In a cricket world cup final. At the MCG. It was a very real possibility at the start of this tournament, but now its actually happening.

Excited.

 

[Pratters]

New Zealand looks extremely relaxed. Saw Elliott smiling vividly remember while batting. Now Crowe talking with McCullum and Guptill with lots of laughs. Relaxed is good. Relaxed is great.

 

[Zinzan]

Oh and as a Kiwi fan if you're not fired up yet just read Ian Chappel's lastest peice. FMD, we'll be lucky to get within 500 runs going by him.

Lol, Chappell should be feeling more of a goose than usual given prior to the NZ/SA game he reportedly said "No team with Grant Elliott in it deserves to play in the final".

 

[Greenlite]

Hahaha Black Caps playing soccer on MCG for training

 

[Flem274*]

winning this then the test series later this year in front of ian chappell is going to be so sweet

ian likes to pretend he's the alpha male of cricket but baz owns his withered old backside.

 

[Greenlite]

Dry pitch, tennis ball bounce according to AUS reporters.

AUS playing AFL for warm up lol

 

[Pratters]

Aussies playing AFL.

 

[Flem274*]

Dry pitch, tennis ball bounce according to AUS reporters.

AUS playing AFL for warm up lol

jacob oram pitch