Beware of emotional New Zealand: Border to Australia

Melbourne, Feb 24 (PTI) New Zealand will lift themselvesagainst Australia in the wake of the Christchurch earthquakeand Ricky Ponting''s men should be wary of their trans-Tasmanrivals when they meet in a World Cup clash tomorrow, cautionedformer Aussie skipper Allan Border.

At least 98 people died in a 6.3 magnitude earthquakethat rocked Christchurch on Tuesday, leaving the New Zealandcricket team shocked, and Border said the tragedy would pumpup Daniel Vettori and his men to perform for their countrymen.

"They''re a side that tend to lift against Australia andgiven the recent events in Christchurch, they''ve got the addedincentive to do well," Border, a World Cup winner in 1987,told foxsports.com.au.

"Not that should make that much difference, but you''vegot that incentive in the back of your mind to lift for thesake of your countrymen. They''re a dangerous opponent, there''sno doubt about that," he added.

The incident forced Black Caps physio Dayle Shackel andtrainer Bryan Stronach, whose wife is four months pregnant, toreturn home for a week, ahead of their second match of thetournament.