Cricket World Cup 2019: Pressure all on India for semi-final - Gary Stead

Blackcaps coach Gary Stead is delighted his side have been completely written off for their World Cup semi-final against India. 

New Zealand limped into the playoffs with three straight defeats, edging Pakistan for the final spot on net run-rate only.

India scored top spot in the group standings, when Australia lost to South Africa on Sunday morning, with many describing the prospect of facing the Blackcaps in the final four as a gift.

But Stead believes that works in New Zealand's favour, particularly against India, who will play with the weight and expectation of a cricket-mad country on their shoulders. 

"I hope everyone thinks that," Stead told Newshub. "We're not spending a lot of time worrying about what other people are thinking, and whether we should be here or not.

"People aren't expecting us to win and from my point of view, that's a good place to be in, because if that's the case, we can go out there and hopefully play with some real freedom. 

"The level of expectation is more on India than it is on New Zealand.

"When you get to this stage of the tournament, I mean, sometimes pressure can do funny things on people as well. If we can play well and we can apply enough pressure, then you never know what might happen."

But the Blackcaps must look deeply at themselves, with a spot in a second straight World Cup final up for grabs.

While the bowling unit has measured up throughout the tournament, New Zealand's batting has emerged as their weakness.

Only Kane Williamson has passed 100 - twice - while Jimmy Neesham hit an unbeaten 97 against Pakistan. 

Colin Munro, Tom Latham, Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor have all suffered the batting blues, with the Blackcaps holding the worst first 20-over strike rate outside of Afghanistan.

Stead acknowledges New Zealand's batting woes are genuinely concerning, but with just two games potentially left, he feels the odds suggest a change in fortune, specifically with opening batsman Guptill.

"Our batting is probably an area we've struggled more at throughout this tournament," Stead said.

"There's no room for not being right at the top of your game and for some of our guys, we've struggled a wee bit. 

"But we are first to put our hands up and admit that, and other guys have stood up in their places and still got us over the line when it's counted. 

"People go through form slumps and heights and that all the time. 

Yes, [Guptill] has had a tough tournament, but there's nothing from my point of view that suggests that's going to continue for a long period of time. He might have 100 in him at the next game."

So don't expect too many changes to the Blackcaps top order come Tuesday night. Stead effectively ruled out any possibility of a return to the top order for wicketkeeper Tom Latham.

"Um oh, I think that's unlikely," Stead told Newshub. 

"Tom Latham, he opens for us in the test matches, but over the last couple of years, he's spent all his time in the middle order and done a really good job for us in there. 

"It was really pleasing to see him get some runs in the last game against England, because that will be good for his confidence.

"I don't think we'll be doing anything drastic. We just know we have to be better in that area than we have been so far. 

Stead also reassured Blackcaps fans that pace bowler Lockie Ferguson is on track to be fit for the Indian clash, after missing the loss against England with a hamstring complaint. 

Newshub.

Join us at 9:30pm Tuesday for live updates of the Blackcaps v India Cricket World Cup semi-final