Cricket World Cup, Super 8: West Indies vs New Zealand preview

The West Indies players, fresh from a night of weeping quietly in their beds after the spectacular humbling they took off Australia, must today put all that aside and saddle up to face New Zealand.  Hopefully Lara will move himself up to number four in the order to give themselves a chance.

New Zealand have lost Lou Vincent to injury, just after his century in the last match meant he was finding some form and they will also miss his incredible fielding in the circle.  However, Shane Bond, who injured Vincent in the nets, is back in the side and I have him to be the player of the tournament come the close. 

West Indies could go one of two ways here, either their confidence is completely shot and they lose or New Zealand will find themselves on the end of an almighty backlash from the Aussie defeat.  I predict the former, but what the hell do I know?

West Indies (probable): Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Brian Lara (capt), Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith, Dinesh Ramdin (wk), Daren Powell, Corey Collymore, Jerome Taylor.

New Zealand (probable): Peter Fulton, Stephen Fleming (capt), Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum (wk), Daniel Vettori, James Franklin, Michael Mason, Shane Bond.