England and New Zealand are set to face each other in the summit clash of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 at Lord’s on Sunday (July 14). Ahead of the highly-anticipated encounter, former Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori has said that the final will be “extra special” as the world will witness a new champion this time around.
It is pertinent to mention here that both England and New Zealand have failed to lift this prestigious trophy previously. While it will be England’s fourth appearance in the World Cup final and their first since 1992, Kiwis featured in the final only once in 2015 where they had lost to Australia.
“Both teams will be very excited about reaching the World Cup final, and the crowning of a first-time winner makes it extra special,” Vettori wrote in his column for the ICC.
“…One of these teams getting across the line for the first time is going to be really exciting.
“Sri Lanka in 1996 were the last first-time winner – that win swept the country and I think it would be exactly the same for New Zealand,” he added.
Vettori reckons the final would be a 50-50 game.
“It’s a 50-50 game and that’s how both teams will view it. Virat Kohli said earlier in the tournament that if a team plays well, they can beat anyone and if they don’t, anyone can beat them.
“Both captains will view it that way, the two have immense respect for each other and there will be lots of camaraderie between the sides. They play in a similar spirit and, whatever the result, it will be a great showcase for the game of cricket,” said Vettori.
“They both have the skill and the initiative to think on their feet and we’ve seen them at their bests in the past couple of games.”
Six members of New Zealand’s squad have featured in the World Cup final four years ago and Vettori said it would be vital for the team’s chances.
“Williamson, Taylor and Martin Guptill were there in 2015, so to have three of the top four batters knowing what it’s like is really key, particularly with the experience they possess. They can replay what they went through four years ago, the emotion and experience is very unique, and there are very few people who get to play in back-to-back World Cup finals,” he remarked.
The former left-arm spinner is keen to see how the Kiwi top order deals with the challenge of Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer, who wreaked havoc on the Australian batting line-up in the second semi-final at Edgbaston.
“That will go a long way in deciding the game, how New Zealand can start and how they can counter, and having that experience in there is so important. It will hold them in really good stead, they’ve dealt with it all before. But it’s not just the batsmen, Trent Boult, Matt Henry and Tim Southee were there in Melbourne, the core members of the side have been there before and faced that challenge,” Vettori concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
