A dance of fire and ice

Craig McMillan, former Black Cap and now the team's batting coach, spoke about controversies, dubious umpiring and match referee sanctions when he addressed the pre-match press conference at Edgbaston. His insinuations, though, had nothing to do with cricket at all and were instead directed at teammate Ross Taylor, who had officiated at the New Zealand team's 'Quiz Night' on Monday. It is all indicative of the mood in the New Zealand camp: chilled. They last played a World Cup game on June 8 with the UK weather keeping them indoors for 10 successive days. They are wary of being caught cold when they get back on the field but do not stress about the "uncontrollables".

Conventional wisdom would have you believe that South Africa could do with such an attitude to maximise their own throughout. But they are above such banality, especially at World Cups. Three defeats in the first week has meant Faf du Plessis's press conferences have a slightly different tenor. Fire, intensity and "four quarter-finals" are some of his oft-repeated narratives.

Du Plessis knows now is no time to be mellow or self-defeating in disposition. Not when South Africa are in another (virtual) knockout game