Black Caps player Daniel Vettori arrives at the Auckland International Airport before heading to Australia to play in the final of the Cricket World Cup this weekend. Photo / Dean Purcell
Black Caps player Daniel Vettori arrives at the Auckland International Airport before heading to Australia to play in the final of the Cricket World Cup this weekend. Photo / Dean Purcell
Daniel Vettori's stiff back is "a bit sore but should be fine" for the Cricket World Cup final on Sunday as the New Zealand team walked through Auckland Airport to applause this afternoon on their way to Melbourne.
In pursuit of one-day international cricket's Holy Grail for half his 36-year-old life, Vettori now gets the chance to contest the ultimate in what's expected to be his final international in any format.
After the tournament Vettori will continue coaching the Indian Premier League's Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise and is expected to take over the reins at the Big Bash's Brisbane Heat.
"It's exciting to have a 'grand final week' experience," Vettori said. "We can look forward to that and sit back to watch another semi-final [Australia v India tomorrow in Sydney] first. It's everything we thought it'd be, but it seemed a long way away before last night."
Vettori came to the crease with 29 runs required to win from 17 balls against South Africa, having spent time off the field resting during the Proteas' innings. He finished with seven from six balls, including a crucial four in the last over from Dale Steyn. That shot brought the target within one scoring shot of a finish with three balls left.
The all-rounder said Grant Elliott, who hit the match-winning six, was the man for the job.
"I'm pretty happy he did it, that was a sense of relief," Vettori said.
"Coming together in front of that sort of crowd is one of the most perfect moments in my career."
"Going by the state of my wife and parents, it is easier to play than to watch," Vettori deadpanned. His 6-year-old son, James, who had suggested his dad didn't jump as high on the trampoline when he leapt like a salmon to mitt West Indian Marlon Samuels in the quarter-final, hadn't seen last night's knock.
"He was fast asleep and busier with other things."
Vettori acknowledged reaching the final was extra special because of its rarity.
"No one else in New Zealand cricket history has experienced that, so it is novel to us but exciting as well."
Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum arrives at the airport. Photo / Dean Purcell
Kiwis farewell cricketing heroes
Fans cheered and applauded the Black Caps this afternoon as they prepared to board their flight to Melbourne.
The team caused a stir at Auckland Airport as they checked in and made their way to the departure lounge, followed by fans vying to get selfies, photographs and autographs with the sports stars.
It was described as "chaos" by one English family waiting at the international check-in area.
Amid the scrum and excitement, a few fans were lucky enough to get close to their sporting heroes.
"We were in the Qantas queue and the Black Caps were going past," Casey Crawford, from Christchurch said.
He and his wife Debbie, and their friends Melissa and Ricky Facoory, have followed the team around the country, from the opening ceremony to every game, and were getting ready to board a flight to Sydney for the Australia v India semi-final, before making their way to Melbourne to watch the final.
"It'll be great," he said.
"We saw them win last night - incredible, absolutely incredible. It's been a spectacular World Cup actually - hopefully it'll finish with a great game of cricket in Melbourne and the best team will win. Hopefully that's the Black Caps, but we'll see."
The busy airport erupted into applause when the Black Caps walked through, Mr Crawford said: "Everybody clapped."
"It was great," he said. "It's been phenomenal."
It was that same enthusiasm and support from the fans that had got the team where they are, he said
Mrs Facoory was the group's 'good-luck charm', as she's never seen the Black Caps lose a game she's attended, her husband said. He was betting on an Australia v New Zealand final to "get the Anzac thing going on", but his wife had her money on India to make it through.
It was a popular choice among fans at the airport, many of whom were hoping for an India v New Zealand final.
Srikant Puvvada had travelled from the US to watch the Black Caps play last night, and managed to get both Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum's autographs as they made their way through the airport this afternoon, as well as snapping a quick pic with McCullum.
It was "very special", Mr Puvvada said.
"I was lucky that we were here at the right time and the right place," he said.
It was his first time in Auckland, having flown over with his mother and brother to watch last night's semifinal.
The family were on their way to Sydney to watch India v Australia, "the mother of all matches", he said. They would be cheering on India to win the cup.
Black Caps player Ross Taylor arrives at the Auckland International Airport before heading to Australia. Photo / Dean Purcell
Chitresh Bhagwan, from Auckland, also managed to snap a selfie with Taylor. The cricket fan said he was excited to meet the star, whom he described as friendly and a nice guy.
Mr Bhagwan was saying goodbye to family members Kiran and Raj Mistry, who had flown to New Zealand for the Cricket World Cup, and were on their way to Australia to watch the last two matches.
"What better place to watch New Zealand win than with the New Zealand populous," Raj Mistry said about last night's nail-biter.
They were both looking forward to the India v Australia game, and said the "dream final" would be India v New Zealand.
"India-New Zealand final. New Zealand to win," Kiran Mistry predicted.
There will be at least 4 million people hoping he's right.
New Zealand last played an ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2009 when Grant Elliott top-scored with 61 not out to secure a six-wicket win. Their last test was the drawn Boxing Day match in 1987 when, at nine wickets down, Mike Whitney defended Richard Hadlee's final over.
