Gilchrist talks up Kiwis
by Cricket Archive Staff Reporter
DateLine: 1st February 2007
New Zealand's improving one-day side have a genuine chance at the
upcoming World Cup, according to Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam
Gilchrist.
The Australians are short-priced favourites to win their third World
Cup in succession in the Caribbean and are unbeaten in the triangular
one-day series against the Black Caps and England.
However, the Kiwis have gone close to beating the Australians in their
last two encounters and Gilchrist said their impressive form was no
fluke. On Sunday, the Australians scored a WACA record 343-5, but a
Jacob Oram century saw the Kiwis fall just eight runs short in the
chase.
Gilchrist noted that the Black Caps nearly won despite resting pacemen
Shane Bond, who boasts an amazing record against Australia, and James
Franklin from the game.
"They are a very dangerous team at full strength," Gilchrist said on
Monday. "They weren't at full strength yesterday - Bond was out and
Franklin has been playing in their first picked team recently. They
have got Oram back and that gives them a nice balance with bat and
ball. They are a dangerous team, there is no doubt about it. They are a
team we have to look out for in this competition and teams in the World
Cup will have to watch them."
Gilchrist expects the Black Caps to be Australia's opponents in the
tri-series finals and said they had "great potential". He said one of
New Zealand's strengths was their batting depth, particularly when they
are chasing a target.
"Guys like Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum and even Daniel Vettori, that
middle to lower order is an extremely dangerous part of their batting
line-up," he said. "They've chased us down before and got close a few
times, so we know they can do it. They like to chase, they have proven
that and they have stated that."
