We (and yes I’m going to act like I’m in the Black Caps) worked so hard to make it through to the final. This wasn’t just a tour here and there, a couple of practice matches and then straight into the World Cup. This was a methodical plan that had been brewing for over 18 months.

So we’re finally in the big dance. 4 million people behind us and we’re playing the other fellas in yellow from across the ditch. I’m pumped I’m amping. Then 7 hours of my life later, I sit there thinking, did we ever want to win that final? Don’t get me wrong, it is one hell of an effort to make the final. And I agree whole-heartedly that if it’s not broke don’t fix it. So yes B-Mac can go out there and slog and I’ll pray with the rest of us that it comes off. But man, we were never in that match. Right from the first ball to the last. We didn’t fire a shot. Not one. The closest we got was the early wicket of Aaron Finch. What’s with that? I don’t know about you, but it felt like we were just happy being in the final. Pinnacle reached and now we’ll go out there and hope we get lucky one more time.

There was no huge passion. The Aussies were giving it to us like they were on a one way trip to North Korea in the morning if they didn’t win. Sure the sledging and send off’s were unnecessary and looked distasteful, but guess who the world champions are. Aussies punch above their stature and do well in so many sports because of that killer instinct. NZ teams have just never had it. Fire up fellas! We were not second through lack of trying, no way. But too many times we have seen NZ teams not just lose, but put up a below par performance on the biggest stage. In NZ though, just getting to the biggest stage is enough, and that’s our problem. I think back to when the Warriors made the final against Manly. We were never in it.

We get all the warm fuzzies because our Black Caps are the most classiest and nice people in the cricketing world, but I wonder how much they would swap of that for a winner’s medal? NZ has also always had a participation first attitude towards sport, and that’s understandable. But when do we make that change to be a country that not only wants to be there or there abouts, but actually confidently winning things. I like an underdog story and NZ teams are generally that loveable underdog story. However only 20% of underdog stories win, which is not a percentage I want on my side. I know some may read this and think I should set sail for Australia now, but as a true Black Caps fan I want the best from the team and unfortunately we got anything but that in Melbourne.