Hobbling NZ backed 'to do job' against Pakistan

BENGALURU, Nov 03 (AFP): Daryl Mitchell on Friday backed injury-plagued New Zealand "to do a job" against Pakistan on Saturday in a World Cup clash which is key to both sides' hopes of making the semi-finals.
New Zealand have been hit by setbacks throughout the tournament and after winning their first four games have since lost three in succession.
On Friday, fast bowler Matt Henry was ruled out with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Kyle Jamieson.
Regular captain Kane Williamson (thumb), all-rounder Mark Chapman (calf), fast bowler Lockie Ferguson (Achilles) and all-rounder James Neesham (wrist) are also on the injury list.
That left New Zealand with just 11 fit players before their last game against South Africa which they lost by 190 runs.
"A number of guys have got to get through fitness tests and pass them and we probably won't know till tonight and tomorrow morning how they pull up," said Mitchell.
"We back everyone within our squad to have success and do a job for the team.
"We're all pretty clear on the roles that we're going to play if given the opportunities and yeah, we'll just go out there get stuck in as Kiwis do and hope we come around the right side."
India have already wrapped up one of the semi-final places and South Africa are virtually assured of also making the last four.
Head-to-head record
Last 10 meetings
11/11/2018: Dubai - No result
26/06/2019: Birmingham - Pakistan won by 6 wickets,
09/01/2023: Karachi - Pakistan won by 6 wickets,
11/01/2023: Karachi - New Zealand won by 79 runs,
13/01/2023: Karachi - New Zealand won by 2 wickets,
27/04/2023: Rawalpindi - Pakistan won by 5 wickets,
29/04/2023: Rawalpindi - Pakistan won by 7 wickets,
03/05/2023: Karachi - Pakistan won by 26 runs,
05/05/2023: Karachi - Pakistan won by 102 runs,
07/05/2023: Karachi - New Zealand won by 47 runs,
Overall: New Zealand wins: 51, Pakistan wins: 60, Tied: 1,
No result: 3.
More news from Ahmedabad adds: Australia skipper Pat Cummins on Friday said he was "a little bit surprised" at England's disappointing show at the World Cup but still rates them as "dangerous" opponents.
The two Ashes rivals meet on Saturday with third-placed Australia looking to further boost their semi-final hopes with a win at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad. The five-time winners will be without two key players in Glenn Maxwell (injured) and Mitchell Marsh (back home for personal reasons) and only have 13 players left in the squad.
Defending champions England remain on the brink of World Cup elimination with five losses in six matches and another defeat would officially knock them out of the final-four race.
"Yeah, a little bit surprised, they've obviously got some class players and performed really well in these kind of tournaments over the last few years," Cummins said.
"These tournaments are pretty fickle. You see it in T20 tournaments around the world, sometimes the best-looking teams just don't start off well and then find it hard to kind of gain ground."
England knocked Australia out of the 2019 World Cup in the semi-finals and went on to win their maiden title.
Cummins still believes England have the players to put up a stiff challenge on Saturday.
"They've got a lot of similar personnel, so they're going to be dangerous tomorrow," said Cummins. "You've got to be careful of any team with that kind of calibre of players."
The two teams come into the contest with memories of their thrilling and acrimonious Ashes series, which ended 2-2, still fresh.
Cummins said the historic rivalry will be an added incentive to win the match and boost their semi-final push.
"I mean it helps our chances to get into the semis so that's probably the overarching feeling of winning this one," said Cummins.
"It's an old rivalry. You're not going to lie, if they beat us, I know it's probably just that little bit sweeter than beating other teams. "And the same with their history of how well they've done in white ball cricket. It would be a great win."
Australia are well-placed to reach the semi-finals after winning four games, but the loss of Maxwell and Marsh has been a blow to them.
Cummins said they expect to book a place in the final-four and move into the business end free of injuries.
"We need to obviously make the semi-finals, but hopefully this is the last little kind of hiccup where we've got a smaller squad to pick from and then once we get closer, we've got a full squad," said Cummins.
"But I've kind of got in my mind the main 11, the way that we want to play, but really happy with our squad."
Head-to-head record
Last 10 meetings
21/06/2018: Chester-le-Street - England won by 6 wickets
24/06/2018: Manchester - England won by 1 wicket
25/06/2019: Lord's - Australia won by 64 runs
11/07/2019: Birmingham - England won by 8 wickets
11/09/2020: Manchester - Australia won by 19 runs
13/09/2020: Manchester - England won by 24 runs
16/09/2020: Manchester - Australia won by 3 wickets
17/11/2022: Adelaide - Australia won by 6 wickets
19/11/2022: Sydney - Australia won by 72 runs
22/11/2022: Melbourne - Australia won by 221 runs
Overall: England wins: 63, Australia wins: 87, Tied: 2,
No result: 3