NAGPUR – Australia’s cricket team will do all it can to support their New Zealand “brothers” when the teams meet in a World Cup match overshadowed by the Christchurch earthquake, captain Ricky Ponting said. The second group game of the World Cup for the trans-Tasman rivals at the VCA Ground here on Friday will take place against the backdrop of devastating tremors which have killed at least 98 people and injured hundreds more. “As an Australian team, we’ve all been extremely saddened by what we’ve seen happen in Christchurch in the last few days,” Ponting said.
“We’ve actually had a chance to speak now to most of the New Zealand players as well, having shared the hotel with them last night and this morning. “I’ve got a couple of guys who I am quite close to in that New Zealand side and they tell me their immediate families and friends are all safe although I understand there are some that aren’t. I think their physio and trainer have had to go back to New Zealand.
“As an Australian cricket team we need to show whatever respect we can and do whatever we can to help people who have been affected by it all.
“We will wear black armbands, I’ll speak to Dan Vettori (the New Zealand captain) at the toss, and we’ll have a minute’s silence, I believe, before the game. “We are neighbours and we treat each other as brothers and we’ll make sure we do that tomorrow.”
Kiwis struck by Donald
impact: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori hailed former South African spearhead Allan Donald on Thursday, claiming he has revived the faltering confidence of the Black Caps seam attack. Donald, known as “White Lightning” during his career, was hired as bowling coach in January by a New Zealand team which arrived at the World Cup having lost 14 of their previous 16 one-day internationals.
But they stopped the rot with a quickfire 10-wicket demolition of Kenya in their World Cup opener with fast bowler Hamish Bennett taking four wickets for 16. Vettori was quick to praise Donald’s effect on Bennett and fellow seamer Tim Southee.
“He’s brought a wealth of experience but the biggest thing he has brought is confidence,” the captain said. “When a team hasn’t been winning, to have him come into the side and instil the sort of confidence that he has and the knowledge that he has in some of our bowlers has been great. “Tim Southee and Hamish Bennett particularly have worked really hard with him and enjoyed his expertise.
“Hopefully for a long time we get the fruits of that because he (Donald) has been a great fit and he’s well revered within world cricket so that brings a lot to the team.”New Zealand face Australia here on Friday in their next Group A game.
