New Zealand must have been left wondering what they have to do to beat the seemingly superhuman Australians. At 84 for 7, they had them in a hold from which it would seem impossible to escape; yet, they not only escaped, but in the end romped home with consummate ease. Problem? What problem?This defeat makes Friday’s encounter with India a virtual quarter final for New Zealand, which they must win if they are to progress in this World Cup. It will not be an easy game for India for, though they have nothing riding on it, they would want to maintain the winning habit they’ve got into.It has taken a great deal of effort to create this momentum and, having done so, India would be keen not to lose it. New Zealand, like India, have been on an upward curve on this tournament. They have two big assets. First, in Stephen Fleming they have the most astute captain in this World Cup and this astuteness and ability to read a game to perfection was abundantly evident on Tuesday, albeit in a losing cause.His decision to put Australia in to bat was, as events proved, the right one with Australia being reduced to 84 for 7 before Bevan and Bichel did it for them for the second time on the trot. Their second big asset is Shane Bond. This young lad doesn’t get mention along the show boys like Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee, but he is well on his way to becoming the best fast bowler in the world and may well take that title from Glenn McGrath in the next six months.He doesn’t clock as much on the speed gun as do Shoaib and Lee but isn’t far behind them and his control, while keeping his pace at well above 90 mph, is phenomenal. He also manages to get movement, both in the air and off the wicket, which makes him a real handful.In the one-day form of the game where he is allowed only ten overs, it was possible for Australia to get away from him. In Test matches he will be a great force for New Zealand. India will have to see off Bond with great care on Friday. In the form that he is at the moment, Tendulkar could demolish anyone, and that includes Bond. But he has to have support at the other end too. However, Bond and Vettori apart, the New Zealand attack is certainly one that the Indian batting on its current form could get after. New Zealand’s follow-up bowlers have gone for a lot of runs even against the Australian tail and, a few days ago, Heath Streak and Sean Ervine of Zimbabwe had a field day against them, which enforces the point that is being made here.Batsmen of the calibre of Yuvraj, Kaif and Dravid in the Indian middle order should be able to do even better.The New Zealand batting has been relying heavily on Fleming and Cairns and these are the two the Indians will have to watch out for. On his day, Cairns can take any attack apart but so far hasn’t really got going except in the game against Zimbabwe.It would appear to be important for India to try and get him before he has got his eye in. The rest of the New Zealand batting has not been performing to its potential and should find this Indian attack a handful.Needless to say, the Indians will be playing to prove the point that New Zealand’s successes on the recent Indian tour to that country were largely due to pitches that tilted the balance too much in favour of the home side and some feel should not have been served up for international cricket. On pitches that give batsmen a fairer chance, the Indians will try to tell the New Zealanders that it will be a very different story.The one thing that India must not do now is to start thinking who may be their opponents in the semi-finals. They have to play each game as it comes along and give each their best shot. It is the job at hand that requires their immediate and full concentration; the future will look after itself if they look after the present.It is important to keep up the winning momntum for it is that that will ensure that all the players peak at the right time and give their best in the final stages of the competition. Every player does not – and need not –perform in all the games, but if the side is winning and playing well, that will help each individual to peak at the right moment.I feel that this column would be incomplete without a word of praise for Javagal Srinath and his superb performance against Sri Lanka. He bowled with genuine fire and that is a product of genuine passion as much as of fitness and talent. Full credit to captain Saurav Ganguly for having persuaded Srinath to come out of retirement for this final fling, but even more credit to the fast bowler for having responded so superbly to his captain’s call.The writer is the former captain of Kent and Pakistan
