Fulton adjusting to new role

Peter Fulton believes New Zealand's final Super Eights match against Australia on Friday will be anything but a meaningless game even though both teams have already qualified for the last four. New Zealand have yet to reach a World Cup final, although they are now in their fifth semi-final.

Ricky Ponting said New Zealand were playing "as well as anyone" in the Caribbean and represented a major danger to his side's hopes of winning an unprecedented third straight World Cup title. "They set the benchmark, they've got a fantastic record in World Cups and they've been playing very well in this tournament," Fulton said.

"That's going to be a big game for us. In some ways it will give us a pretty good indication of where we are." Fulton said he didn't care who New Zealand played in the semi-finals. "To be honest if you're going to win the World Cup you'll have to beat Australia at some stage," he said. "I don't think it really matters."

Fulton, who made his name as a middle-order batsman, was left on the sidelines at the start of the tournament but found himself drafted in to open alongside Stephen Fleming after a broken wrist ended Lou Vincent's campaign. "Every time I go out there I'm feeling a little better adjusted to it," said Fulton, who is averaging 31.50 in the World Cup.

"I think if Stephen and I can get a big partnership going it's going to increase our chances with our strong middle order. I haven't done too much batting with him in the past but he's a good guy to bat with, he's pretty relaxed and keeps it pretty simple."

New Zealand bounced back from their six wicket-defeat by Sri Lanka on Thursday when they returned to Grenada's National Stadium 48 hours later and beat South Africa by five wickets. That match saw New Zealand exploit early moisture in the pitch and helpful overcast conditions as they held South Africa to 193 for 7.

"The first five to ten overs here are pretty crucial sometimes because the wickets are a little bit damp," Fulton said. "So the onus is on the opening batsmen to get through that period to assess what's going to be a good score and also maintain a strike rate.

"As we saw South Africa got themselves in a little bit of trouble. The wicket was doing a bit but the fact they were so slow [after 10 overs they were 12 for 2] early on probably cost them in the end."