As you get up on Saturday morning to tune into the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015's inaugural match, New Zealand and Sri lanka would have played some overs to give the kicker a direction all the way from Christchurch. But that would not have dulled the pressure, expectation, excitement and nerves which marked the respective captains', Brendon McCullum of New Zealand, and Angelo Mathews of Sri lanka press conference.
In some ways the words were deployed defensively, as platitudes to mask raw feelings or as attempts to distil powerful emotions individual players may be feeling as they approach one of the largest tournaments of their lives. McCullum let his defence drop to show some thoughts that lay behind the words — in his case an overpowering sense of mission and confidence as he attempts to lead New Zealand to its first title.
McCullum was asked whether New Zealand had ever sent a better-prepared team to a World Cup. “No, we haven't," We never have, not the ones I've been involved with anyway. We believe we are a good cricket team and have a chance in this Cup." Mathews spoke of the pressure Kiwis may be under as the home team and as bearers of heavy expectation after an outstanding build-up. New Zealand crept up as World Cup favourites, even before it beat Sri lanka 4-2 and Pakistan 2-0 in the recent ODI series.