The Australian cricket team is continuing their war of words in relation to New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, saying they have four players as good as him, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.
The latest salvo comes ahead of tomorrow's head-to-head in Auckland, which has been billed as the biggest match at the Cricket World Cup to date.
Brendon McCullum during the match in Wellington against England. Photo: AFP
Australia's bowling coach Craig McDermott, a former international, told the SMH: "I can think of four players that play for us who are equally as good [as McCullum], so maybe they've got four times the headaches".
McDermott was also fairly dismissive when asked about the quality of New Zealand's bowling attack.
"Facing our blokes at practice is difficult enough, so I think our blokes are going to be pretty well prepared."
Earlier this week Australia's always chatty opener David Warner said McCullum's scalp was one of the keys to winning the match.
"We've got to back our strengths, if we bowl well to him, we'll create the pressure and he'll have a brain explosion," said Warner.
The New Zealand camp have resolutely declined to react to the verbal carpet bombing from the Australians, with coach Mike Hesson saying they were focusing "on our own job.'
* The match starts at 2pm tomorrow and you can follow the live commentary on radionz.co.nz
