PUNE, India: The captain of the New Zealand cricket team, Tom Latham, is eager to channel the indomitable spirit of the All Blacks as his side prepares to take on fellow ICC World Cup semi-final contenders South Africa in a high-stakes encounter in Pune on Wednesday.
This much-anticipated match follows closely on the heels of a gripping Rugby World Cup final in Paris, where the South African rugby team narrowly edged out New Zealand by a single point. The All Blacks, despite facing adversity due to the early expulsion of their skipper, Sam Cane, displayed remarkable resilience throughout the game.
Latham, in a press conference held on Tuesday, drew parallels between the rugby showdown and the character of his own cricketing team. He remarked, “That was undeniably an extraordinary rugby match. However, when we reflect on the All Blacks as a whole, they exhibited exceptional rugby skills throughout the World Cup.”
He continued, “I believe if we examine the final and the Kiwi approach, it’s about persevering relentlessly, even in the face of adversity, such as playing with 14 men. This is something we emphasize in our cricket team as well – the determination to fight until the very end, regardless of the circumstances.”
Regarding the upcoming match against South Africa, Latham acknowledged the formidable challenge they would pose. He described the South African team as being “in top form” and highlighted their lone defeat in the tournament, a surprising loss to the Netherlands.
Latham added, “South Africa is currently on a winning streak, and they possess immense power throughout their lineup. Nevertheless, we are well aware of our world-class bowling attack, and it promises to be an exhilarating contest tomorrow.”
New Zealand, however, remains uncertain about the availability of their regular captain and star batsman, Kane Williamson (thumb injury), fast bowler Lockie Ferguson (Achilles injury), and all-rounder Mark Chapman (calf ailment).
In a separate development, Rassie van der Dussen, a prominent figure in the South African cricket team, addressed the issue of historical World Cup disappointments and whether it has left any lingering “baggage.”
South Africa has encountered heartbreak at the World Cup despite fielding some legendary players in the past. The term “choking” has been associated with their untimely exits from previous tournaments. Furthermore, a recent loss to the Netherlands in this World Cup edition stirred further debate.
However, van der Dussen dispelled the notion that such past disappointments weigh heavily on the current team. He stated, “No, I suppose it’s a matter of recognizing and accepting it. After the match against the Dutch, we faced significant criticism from our home audience and the media. It’s not productive to dwell on it; we must acknowledge it and move forward.”
Van der Dussen acknowledged the deep emotional impact these past performances have had on South African cricket fans, saying, “There are supporters at home who have been deeply scarred by South Africa’s past World Cup showings. You can’t blame them for feeling that way; the criticism stems from a place of deep disappointment.”
Nevertheless, he stressed, “Personally, and I believe this applies to most individuals in our squad and management team, we haven’t lived through those experiences. Therefore, it doesn’t greatly influence us.”
By agencies