New Zealand Captain Mitchell Santner expressed his team was geared up to put up a strong "fight" in the upcoming three-match Twenty20 series against a formidable Australian side.
The matches, critical with the World Cup approaching in June, are scheduled to take place in Wellington on Wednesday, followed by games in Auckland on Friday and Sunday.
Despite being considered underdogs, Santner dismissed the tag, stating, "We're probably underdogs, but we are used to that tag and don't think much of it." Embracing the challenge, he added, "It's always a pretty cool time when the Aussies come over. You always want to challenge yourself against the best in the world, and they're up there for sure."
Highlighting the significance of the trans-Tasman clash, Santner acknowledged the limited frequency of encounters with Australia. The Black Caps emerged victorious in their last T20 series against Australia three years ago, winning 3-2. Reflecting on the upcoming series, Santner commented, "We've just got to do our thing, we've got our plans in place."
Acknowledging the strength of the Australian squad, Santner noted, "Looking at their squad at the moment, they're a very, very good team with all bases covered." The New Zealand all-rounder emphasised the need for his team to stick to their plans and strategies.
Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, enters the series with a full-strength lineup. Notably, David Warner, having recently retired from Test cricket, is on the brink of overtaking Aaron Finch as Australia's all-time leading scorer in men's T20s, being just 54 runs away.
While New Zealand has rested Kane Williamson, a world-class batsman, they have added the experience of Trent Boult to their bowling attack. Santner acknowledged the explosiveness of the Australian team and emphasised the importance of New Zealand staying resilient throughout the series.
"We want to put up a good fight this series, then we can look forward after that," Santner concluded, highlighting the team's aspirations beyond the T20 series, which will be followed by two Tests.
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