When New Zealand came across the Tasman in late March 2015 for the ODI World Cup final they could not have been a more confident team, after surging through the tournament unbeaten on home soil, dreaming of the chance to topple their fellow hosts at the MCG to claim the title.
Williamson, as you would expect, was not taking any bait with regards New Zealand’s record in Australia. “We haven’t thought too much about that,” he said. “Nice to play against Australia first up, and it should be a good game.
“They know the conditions well. They’re very clinical at home and in most places that they play, which is a reflection of where they stand in the game. So there is that respect. We know that we have a number of match-winners throughout, and the team’s looking forward to the [competition]. We’ve had a number of good clashes [with Australia] over the years and a number of good series as well, and I guess most recently probably the last World Cup.”
Boult and Williamson are among four New Zealand players who appeared in the 2015 final who could feature at the SCG on Saturday (Australia are likely to have five) although the other two, Tim Southee and Martin Guptill, are not certain selections. If Guptill doesn’t make the starting XI it adds to the sense that there is a slow changing of the guard in the New Zealand side.
The fortunes of Boult and Williamson, meanwhile, are also part of a wider theme about this New Zealand side and whether they have passed the peak that made them the form team in the world little more than a year ago.
“We haven’t thought too much about that. Nice to play against Australia first up, and it should be a good game.”
Kane Williamson is not reading too much into New Zealand’s Australia hoodoo
“It was nice to spend some time in the middle,” he said. “It would have been nice to get on the right side of the result as a team. For me, it’s just continuing to try to improve and add value where I can, and try and make as big a contribution as I can to the team and my role.”
However, over the last 12 months or so there have started to be regular questions asked about whether he is the right person to carry on as captain in all three formats. You would think that a successful tournament in Australia would put the ball firmly in his court as to whatever decisions he wants to make.
“Preparation is always varied regardless of what happens, even if it’s perfectly planned,” Williamson said. “It was nice to get those [tri-series] games in back home, some really competitive cricket, and then nice to be over here in Australia and get into some preparation. It is a balance between doing more and trying to make sure guys are fresh, and I suppose you factor in some of the uncontrollables. We’ve had a bit of weather and all that.”
Unlike their visit in 2015, or last year’s final in the UAE, a loss at the SCG wouldn’t be terminal to New Zealand’s hopes of adding to the 2000 ICC Knockout and 2021 Test Championship as their two pieces of global silverware. But ending the hoodoo would be the perfect start.
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
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