New Zealand fans at the Black Caps-England match in St Lucia. Photo / Reuters
Martin Pegan is a London-based journalist working for the newzealandtimes.co.uk
If there is one thing to love about the English it is that they are not afraid to dream. No matter what the sport, when a major tournament arrives they pump up their chances like no other.
But just as inevitably, those dreams are quickly destroyed.
England and
New Zealand both arrived at this World Cup with a very good team filled mostly with reasonable players that had just knocked off the best side in the world, His Arrogantness of Australia.
But while Black Caps fans are quietly confident that a deep batting line up and crafty bowling can finally take us to glory, for once the English aren't manufacturing a dream for themselves.
Maybe it is because we are still in the mostly insignificant group stage, but before the game against New Zealand the English media and fans seemed more concerned with the fitness of James Anderson than the likelihood of claiming the Cup.
Of course, New Zealand justified England's lack of interest with a quality display that only once stumbled like the Black Caps can make themselves, with three soft dismissals early on.
Kiwis in London are starting to dream. Perhaps it helped that the England game was played on Friday afternoon-evening here, perfect for office banter and after-work drinks.
An example of the hopes here came from Paul King, originally from Christchurch but living in the UK for eight years: "I truly believe we already have one hand on the trophy and as long as we stay injury free the Black Caps will start what is going to be a great year for New Zealand sport."
Maybe it is time for all Kiwis to dream – our best 11 now has a solid foundation that is less likely to suddenly crumble as it has in the past.
But as Black Caps fans know, it is still early days and whatever happens over the next six weeks it is going to be a wild ride with a few surprises.
