Black Caps do not fear OZ pace attack

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson says his team has no reason to fear the pace bowling attack of Australia when the two co-hosts meet in a World Cup Pool A showdown in Auckland on Saturday.
The Black Caps come into what could be an explosive clash on a high after convincing wins against Sri Lanka and England, and a not so secure victory over Scotland.
The Kiwis have been getting off to quick starts in most games, generally looking to attack the bowling from the outset. There is a fear, however, that their top-order batsman have not yet been tested by genuine pace bowling.
The Aussies certainly have pace in abundance, with left-armers Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson regularly hitting the 150 kph mark, but Hesson feels there is no reason to play any differently.
The New Zealand coach said: "They bowl 150 [kilometres per hour]. there's plenty of guys that bowl 150. We face [New Zealand bowler] Adam Milne every day – he bowls 150 and we cope with that okay."
With an expected capacity crowd providing a potentially hostile atmosphere towards the away team, Hesson says his players will not get involved in any verbal battles with the Australia players.
Hesson added: "We deal with plenty of sides that provide that [on-field sledging] and we just tend to go about our work. We don't get too caught up in that sort of stuff.
"We're pretty respectful of our opposition and we're competitive, but we pretty much focus on our own job. We don't have a rule [against sledging], but as I said we're just respectful of our opposition.
"We basically focus on what we're trying to do rather than anything else."
Latest
-
News
Heather Knight renews call for five-day Tests after South Africa draw
The last women’s Test to end in a victory either way was in 2015.
-
News
Rain forces draw between England and South Africa in Taunton Test
Heather Knight’s side had looked to close in on victory on the final day.
-
News
England’s hopes of rare home Test victory dashed by bad weather at Taunton
Play against South Africa was eventually called off after four rain delays.
-
News
Workload of bowlers could be a game-changer, reveals Ben Stokes
The England captain has admitted he deliberately pushed his team-mates to the limit at Headingley.
-
News
Q&A: Is Jos Buttler the right man for England white-ball captaincy?
Buttler has been confirmed as Eoin Morgan’s successor in the job.
-
News
Jos Buttler takes over from Eoin Morgan as England’s limited-overs captain
Morgan announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday.
-
News
Dom Sibley to return to Surrey from Warwickshire at end of the season
Sibley has played all of his 22 Tests since joining the Bears.
-
News
James Anderson returns for England’s Test against India
Sam Billings also comes in as Ben Foakes and Jamie Overton miss out on the Edgbaston contest.
-
News
England name Sam Billings and James Anderson in XI for Test against India
Billings was drafted in at short notice for his second Test appearance against New Zealand last week as a Covid substitute for Ben Foakes.
-
News
Temporary stand collapses ahead of second day between Sri Lanka and Australia
Cricket Australia confirmed no one was underneath the small makeshift seating area.