The Hindu : Sport : Kiwis on revenge mission

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Friday, Mar 16, 2007
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Kiwis on revenge mission

England skipper banking on Flintoff, Pietersen and Collingwood.

GROS ISLET (St. Lucia): New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming will have revenge very much on his mind when the Black Caps open their World Cup campaign against England here at Beausejour on Friday.

Both teams were involved in the triangular series in Australia last month where England, after crushing defeats against both opponents, came from behind to defeat the host and reigning world champion 2-0 in the final.

With the Test sides odds-on favourites to qualify from Group C, also featuring Canada and Kenya, Friday's match has added significance.

Assuming they each do make it to the second phase, the winner of this match will carry two points forward into the Super Eights.

Smarting over defeat

``We're smarting over England knocking us out in Australia and to get a good start to this tournament we have to win it, and win it well,'' Fleming said.

``Looking at the Super Eights you've probably got to beat every side to win this tournament at some stage and if we beat England now it may help in the long run.''

England captain Michael Vaughan said recent form would count for little.

Good squad

``New Zealand are a good team and are full of experience of playing in these kinds of tournaments,'' said the skipper.

``They are always there or thereabouts come semifinal time. We know it's a tough game for us on Friday but, as we showed in Australia, if we turn up and play we can certainly beat them.''

England fell at the first hurdle during the last World Cup in South Africa four years ago but Vaughan said they were now a stronger side.

``We've got some real match-winners in this team — Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood. These guys on any given day can win you games on their own.

``At the last World Cup, we might have had one or two match-winners. I think we've got as many as five in this team.''

England's preparations suffered a setback when fast bowler James Anderson fractured the little finger of his right bowling hand during catching practice on Wednesday.

New Zealand has injury concerns as well.

All-rounder Craig McMillan is a big doubt the match after badly injuring the big toe of his right foot in net practice.

A yorker from fast bowler Shane Bond hit him on his foot and he was taken to hospital on Wednesday for an x-ray which revealed no breaks but severe bruising.

However, big-hitting all-rounder Jacob Oram is fit after a finger problem of his own.

``We're pretty similar in our make up. We've both got good left-arm spinners (New Zealand has Daniel Vettori), the all-rounder sides of things is taken care off with Jacob and Flintoff,'' said Fleming.

The teams (from):

England: Michael Vaughan (capt.), Ed Joyce, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Jamie Dalrymple, Paul Nixon (wk), James Anderson, Liam Plunkett, Jon Lewis, Monty Panesar.

New Zealand: Lou Vincent, Stephen Fleming (capt.), Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum (wk), Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Jeetan Patel, James Franklin, Daryl Tuffey.

Umpires: Field: Rudi Koertzen and Billy Doctrove; TV: Peter Parker; Match Referee: Mike Procter. — Agencies

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