New Zealand allrounder Corey Anderson is embracing the pressure – and the verbal warfare – of playing Australia in the World Cup, describing Saturday’s game in Auckland as the biggest of his career.
The Black Caps reconvened on Tuesday, having taken three days off following their eight-wicket demolition of England in Wellington which lifted their record to three-from-three midway through their group schedule.
Co-hosts Australia, who have notched a win over England and endured a washout against Bangladesh, represent another step-up, particularly for Anderson, who has never played against them in a career that spans 54 internationals across all formats.
“It’s going to be definitely the biggest game in my career and the same for a lot of other guys,” he told reporters.
“At the moment it feels like another World Cup game that we’ve got to win but I’m sure once we see the crowds roll in and a little more hype a couple of days out, it’s going to be pretty cool.
“It’s Australia, you always want to beat Australia.”
Anderson dismissed Australian opening batsman Aaron Finch’s comments that the pressure is on New Zealand to perform on home soil as mind games.
He expects more psychological battles to play out on Eden Park, anticipating the sort of verbals not usually encountered against other teams.
“Their sledging tactics are well-known now. It’s something we haven’t involved ourselves in. We’re neutral on the field and we just stick to what we do.
“We’ll be expecting a little bit of heat from them but I guess that’s just part of their game plan and we’ll deal to it as it comes.”
The 24-year-old and pace bowler Adam Milne were the only players to stay on at the team’s hotel during their mid-tournament break.
The others spent time with friends and families, something Anderson says is a positive in a long tournament, with public expectations of the Black Caps having only escalated since the World Cup began.
However, he hopes they don’t lose any of the momentum that has carried them to 11 wins from their last 13 ODIs.
