Mumbai, Nov 14: New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson stopped just short of saying the Black Caps will take inspiration from their 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup heroics against India when the two teams meet at the same stage in Mumbai.
Ferguson was part of a New Zealand side that denied India in an extraordinary semi-final in Manchester four years ago – a game that spanned two days thanks to significant rain delays.
And while the Kiwi quick says that the match was a superb memory for him and his teammates, he was quick to point out to questioning journalists that the two teams have changed a lot in the intervening World Cup cycle.
“Four years ago was a pretty spectacular game,” Ferguson said.“I’ve never played a one-day game over two days, it’s literally not even in the title. So, I think playing that game was pretty incredible and obviously very pleasing for us at the time.
“But four years have gone past, we’ve played a lot of cricket in between, and both teams I’m sure are raring to go come Wednesday.”Four years may have passed, but this crop of New Zealand players are continuing the nation’s extraordinary record in men’s white-ball competitions.
Progress to the semi-finals in India means that the Kiwis have now reached the final four in five consecutive ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups, having been losing finalists in 2019 and 2015 and semi-finalists in 2011 and 2007.
Three consecutive semi-final appearances in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cups (in 2016, 2021 and 2022) have also come in recent years. And Ferguson says part of the secret to that consistent level of performance has to be partly down to the team’s level mindset. (Agencies)
