Cricket World Cup 2019: Blackcaps embrace underdog status for final against England

Senior Blackcaps batsman Ross Taylor is relishing the underdog tag ahead of the Cricket World Cup final against England at Lord's.

New Zealand defied the odds to beat India in their semi-final, and they face another stern challenge in the showpiece event against the rampant hosts on Sunday night.

England heads into the final as favourites, having demolished the Blackcaps by 119 runs nine days ago in Durham, but that doesn't faze by that as they look to draw the experience of reaching the final four years ago.

"There is going to be a new winner of the Cup," Taylor told the AM Show. "England will go in as favourites and most of the time, we do go into these matches as underdogs, but that's a tag we embrace.

"There's lots of pressure on England in front of their home crowd, but they do probably have the most balanced side in the tournaments.

"Both teams will be nervous, but the team who deals with that the best will probably win. We still do have lots of players from the 2015 World Cup, and hopefully, that experience can carry us through.

"Lots of people didn't give us a chance heading into the India match, but we have nothing to lose, and that's the attitude we'll take into this match, to enjoy ourselves, put our best foot forward and leave it all out on the paddock." 

Taylor feels the Blackcaps are hitting their stride at the right time, which he feels will help them defy the odds once again.

"We haven't played as well as we would have liked during the pool games, but hopefully we're peaking at the right time, something you have to lose a final to win one and hopefully the guys who lost in the one four years ago can draw on that emotion to deal with the nerves.

"It's key for the guys who haven't to enjoy the moment and there is no better place to play in final than the home of cricket." 

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