Bracewell looks ahead to the Champions Trophy

John Bracewell, New Zealand's coach, feels that their hopes of winning the Champions Trophy hinge on their second game against Australia on September 16 at The Oval. "That's it in a nutshell. If we win against Australia we carry on, if we lose there is no tomorrow," he was quoted as saying in the Stuff website.

The New Zealand team left for England yesterday where they will play a few practice matches ahead of their Champions Trophy campaign. They were slotted in the same pool as United States, who they will play on September 10, and Australia.

New Zealand, currently ranked No. 2 in the ICC one-day rankings, had lost to Australia in the last edition of the tournament. However, they have had a great time over the last year and won 13 of their last 15 one-dayers. But Bracewell warned against complacency. "We don't want to raise the level of expectation too high. While you are riding the board you don't want to come crashing off and end up chewing sand.

"Even a top side, like Australia, go at about a 70% ratio which still means losing on an average three matches in ten. I'd like to see our guys' body-language against them and the dressing-room behaviour before passing any comment."

With a wealth of experience in English conditions, Bracewell warned that the pitches could play a vital role. "They [the pitches] could have plenty of moisture in them and be best for bowling, or they could be tired, used pitches which are probably best to bat first on. We will just have to judge each one as we strike it. The toss could decide the outcome."

The Champions Trophy is bound to bring back fond memories to many of the New Zealand players as they look back to their triumphant campaign in 2000, their first major one-day championship success.