New Zealand captain Kane Williamson could well be holding two world titles if his side manages to beat Australia on Sunday but he is not thinking of the prize, just yet.
Speaking at a news conference in Dubai on the eve of the decider, the Black Caps skipper, who led his team to the World Test Championship title in June, said: “Yeah, it would be some achievement. But you know, where it stands at the moment is there’s a game of cricket to play and for us, it’s focusing on that, focusing on our cricket and looking to go out there and implement those things that are important to us. So that’s very much where we are at the moment.”
The last time the two teams met in the final of a World Cup (in 2015), Australia had beaten New Zealand comprehensively by seven wickets at the MCG. Sunday’s T20 World Cup decider, Williamson agreed, would provide New Zealand a decent opportunity to go a step further.
“It’s an opportunity for us to go out and try to build on the performances that we’ve been putting on. Obviously, both teams are looking to go out and put their best foot
forward, and that’s the nature of the competition. But this final is a one-off match and for us, it’s about trying to make those small adjustments again and keeping the focus really close and what it needs to be,” he emphasised.
For Williamson’s counterpart Aaron Finch, playing in a Trans-Tasman clash is “bloody exciting”. Reflecting on Australia’s rivalry with New Zealand, “a very much confident” Finch said: “Both teams have got a great history in cricket. Well, not just cricket, but as neighbours, so to speak, Down Under. It’s a great relationship.
“We play quite a bit against New Zealand now and we always have great battles regardless of the format. So yeah, it’s bloody exciting to be playing against New Zealand,” Finch said.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa too has been a major contributor so far for the Aussies and could play a critical role in the final too, Williamson said. But according to Finch, Australia will be relying on collective effort to lift the Cup.
“I don’t think it’s down to one person. I think in a big game, you need everyone to chip in their part and yeah, that’s a part of the pressure of a final and if it’s your day as an individual, you need to try to maximise that and go in as big as you can,” Finch stressed.