'Aussies not bothered about opponents'

John Buchanan said that facing either India or New Zealand in the day-night summit clash did not make any difference to his world champion side.

Displaying confidence ahead of the November 18 tri-series cricket final, Australian coach John Buchanan on Friday said that facing either India or New Zealand in the day-night summit clash did not make any difference to his world champion side.

HT Image

"Whichever team we face, whether it is India or New Zealand, does not matter to us. We will only concentrate on playing well," the Aussie coach told newspersons at the team hotel here soon after arriving by a morning flight from Bangalore.

"But I know, from a local point of view, everybody will like us to play India," he quipped.

The Aussies, who lost to the hosts in their opening match of the tournament, have been in marvellous form since then, winning five back-to-back matches. They bulldozed their way into the final garnering 28 points, leaving their two opponents far behind.

India and New Zealand, now on ten points each, would battle it out in the last group league game of the tournament at Hyderabad tomorrow to decide the other finalist.

"The final will be a new game for us. We have finished the league matches. We played quite well. And now only the Big Match remains," Buchanan said.