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Sport | Black Caps

Strong Ngāi Tahu connection in Black Caps team

There's a strong Ngāi Tahu connection in the Black Caps so much so, you could just about rename them the Tahu Caps.

Two of their bowlers and their bowling coach all have links to the South Island tribe.

Te Kāea caught up with the threesome in Melbourne before the biggest game of their lives.

Trent Boult, Kyle Mills and Shane Bond are all proud descendants of Tahu Pōtiki.

Shane Bond says, “I use to spend a lot of time as a kid in Kaikoura with my family over there, my 3 kids are doing haka at the moment and they're getting right into it.”

Kyle Mills says, “My whakapapa goes back to the Bluff and Riverton but the last 3 generations we've been living up north.”

Trent Bolt who as well as Ngāi Tahu has ties to Ngāti Porou says, “my grandparents tried to get us into it, i spent a lot of time growing up on the local marae and with the whanau.”

Trent has been in supreme form during the world cup. He's the leading wicket-taker of the world cup so far with 21. Five of those wickets came against tomorrow's final opposition Australia during pool play.

Shane Bond, says, “Boulty..oh there's a number of reasons why he's so good, he's a great lad, hes fit, dedicated consistent, like all good lads and he has an ego, but he's willing to listen.”

Although Kyle hasn't yet played in the world cup, both he and Trent credit Shane and the knowledge he's passed on to them.

Kyle Mills says, “to have that ability to play with no fear and not to be afraid to try things.”

Trent Boult says, “his experiences in international cricket it’s been very nice to pass down and share with me.”

The focus now is solely on tomorrow's huge game and the enormity of the occasion.

Trent Boult says “field well first of all and we need to get some runs on the board and hopefully deny it with the ball, if we can bring those 3 together then we'll certainly be challenging.”

Kyle Mills,says, “We've had some big series wins over in South Africa and over in England and West Indies and when you win like that overseas it gives you confidence.”

There has been much talk about the size of the MCG and the Black Caps coming up against Australia on home soil but Shane has confidence in his kin and rest of the team.

“Everyday the guys turn up and surprise me and ive got that feeling again that im nervous and anxious and if the boys keep doing what they have been then its going to be a good day for NZ” says Bond.

They left as winners, let's hope they return as champions.