All-rounder Corey Anderson has credited skipper Brendon McCullum for his leadership and veteran spinner Daniel Vettori for his canny skills to drive the New Zealand juggernaut to a huge win in their World Cup opener against Sri Lanka.
Anderson was named man of the match for his 75 and two for 18 double in New Zealand's 98-run win, but the all-rounder passed the credit to the two veterans in the side.
Anderson said that McCullum erased any nerves in the side when he blasted a rapid 65 in a quickfire 111-run opening partnership with Martin Guptill to set up New Zealand's impressive 331-6 in their 50 overs, Sport24 reported.
Vettori then snared the key wickets of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jaywardene as New Zealand wrapped up Sri Lanka's batting line-up for 233.
The all-rounder said that they had a had a few nerves before the game, being the first World Cup game, but added that they settled pretty quickly when Brendon and Guptill went about their work.
He insisted that they all know McCullum as being someone that in a big event he really turns it on.
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Anderson also revealed that, despite New Zealand being installed among the favourites, McCullum has told them to treat it as another game of cricket and go about their work and keep what began as a juggernaut rolling forward and he claimed that that's what they did.
Anderson said that McCullum's so inspirational it's always nice to have the skipper on their side.