'Win will be NZ's finest sporting moment'
The greatest player New Zealand has ever produced, Richard Hadlee, says the Black Caps winning on Sunday would be the equal of the All Blacks' success in the rugby World Cup as the country's finest moment in sport.
Cricket is a secondary sport in the rugby-mad nation but the NZ public have been captivated by the aggression and success of Brendon McCullum's Black Caps, whom Hadlee rates as the best side the country has ever produced for a World Cup.
Hadlee, a board member of NZ Cricket, said the Black Caps, who have reached their first final after six losing semi-finals, had what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to become sporting immortals in the Shaky Isles.
"It doesn't matter if it's Australia, England, India, they're in it for the first time, they have an opportunity to create history in our game, which means they will never ever be forgotten," Hadlee said.
"It's like the rugby when they won it in '87, they've won it twice, we're yet to do it. You look at the America's Cup, great moment in our sporting history, win the cricket World Cup and it'll be right up there with our greatest ever achievements.
"We've had 40 years of World Cup cricket and to finally get across the line if we do is part of our cricketing history.
Their hopes for success will hinge largely on the verve and swerve of swingmen Trent Boult and Tim Southee proving more potent than the speed and aggression of Australia's express-paced trio.
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