Cricket World Cup: Howzat? Nerve racking!

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum walking from the pitch after being caught out, for 12, during their ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 quarter-final against the West Indies. Photo / Mark MItchell

So how are those nerves?

Brendon McCullum's Black Caps won't be the only Kiwis gnawing their nails in the lead-up to Tuesday's titanic semifinal against South Africa at Eden Park.

Fans now have two sleeps until the big game, after the Black Caps thrashed the West Indies last night. A win on Tuesday, and it's on to Sunday's Cricket World Cup final in Melbourne.

And as nervous supporters count down for the biggest game of cricket in New Zealand for more than 20 years, leading sports psychologist Gary Hermansson says the key to keeping calm is adopting the same pre-match attitude as the Black Caps.

"Focus your attention on the job and look at what they've done rather than getting too pre-occupied with the importance of the outcome. And at the end of the day, relax and get a life. Go to a movie, give your kids a hug, breathe the fresh air of New Zealand and put it into perspective."

Sport and clinical psychologist Graeme Clarke said the week promised to be one of drama for Black Caps fans.

He advised the most excitable and nervy supporters to have mates around them for emotional support. And breathe deeply!

"Having family, mates, friends to talk to is pretty good. Otherwise you'll dwell on it," he said.

"To deal with nerves, slow down the abdominal breathing, trying to focus on the positives and just comfort each other."

Sara Chatwin, of MindWorks, said fans could help themselves by going into Tuesday's match with a clear mind. They should also be supportive and positive, and keep firmly in the back of the mind that "what will be, will be".

And should the Black Caps' golden summer end on Tuesday, Chatwin said it was important fans looked back with pride.

"Losing, winning — it's all part of the same continuum and we just have to relax and roll with it and make sure that we don't denigrate our players irrespective of outcomes. But most of us will remember that we've had such a lot of cricketing success — it's been so exciting."

For more coverage of the Cricket World Cup from nzherald.co.nz and NZME check out #CricketFever.