-
The Black Caps are confident ahead of their first ODI against South Africa in Wellington. - Source: Photosport -
Related
It's a case of wiping the slate clean for the Black Caps as they head into the ODI series against South Africa starting in Wellington today.
The royal capitulation in the final Twenty20 international at Eden Park on Wednesday night, which blew arguably their best chance for a series win against the Proteas this summer, is a result they don't want to dwell on.
Instead the Black Caps are looking ahead to the three match ODI series with confidence.
Last year's upset quarter-final win over the visitors at the World Cup and recent form against Zimbabwe, although never the best gauge, has built belief within the group that they can match the South Africans all across the park.
"There's definitely belief that we can beat them. We know that on paper they're a very good team. They've got some experience throughout their line-up and some proven world-class players," New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said.
"But we are playing in our conditions, we've got what we think's a pretty exciting unit as well. Our bowlers are going very well at the moment.
"Our batters have done pretty well all summer led by Martin Guptill and Rob Nicol up front as well, which has been great and we know that in the field we are as good as anyone around the world.
"So if we can get our performance together on the day across the board then we are going to put South Africa under pressure and, in our own conditions with our home crowd behind us, we are confident we can get the job done."
New Zealand won't decide their final XI until just before the toss but leg-spinner Tarun Nethula and left armer pace bowler Andy McKay, who didn't compete in the 20-over format, add options to their bowling attack.
Nicol and Guptill will continue their successful opening partnership with McCullum and Ryder to follow and the onus will really be on one of those players to deliver a big score.
Especially when you consider South Africa welcome back big guns Dale Steyn, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and Faf de Plessis in to their squad.
While acknowledging his squad had been strengthened considerably, South African captain AB de Villiers remained wary of the threat the Black Caps bring in the 50 over format.
"We are still away from home. New Zealand's a very good one-day unit. We know that; very dangerous," he said.
"We are ranked higher than them so we should be winning but it's going to be a tough series, that's for sure. I think they're hurting after that T20 series, they've also got that same look in the one-day team, not too many changes."
The match starts at 2pm.
