Australia's cricket team will do all it can to support their New Zealand "brothers" when the teams meet in a World Cup match overshadowed by the Christchurch earthquake, captain Ricky Ponting said. The second group game of the World Cup for the trans-Tasman rivals at the VCA Ground here on Friday will take place against the backdrop of devastating tremors which have killed at least 98 people and injured hundreds more.
"As an Australian team, we've all been extremely saddened by what we've seen happen in Christchurch in the last few days," Ponting said. "We've actually had a chance to speak now to most of the New Zealand players as well, having shared the hotel with them last night and this morning.
"I've got a couple of guys who I am quite close to in that New Zealand side and they tell me their immediate families and friends are all safe although I understand there are some that aren't. I think their physio and trainer have had to go back to New Zealand. "As an Australian cricket team we need to show whatever respect we can and do whatever we can to help people who have been affected by it all. "We will wear black armbands, I'll speak to Dan Vettori (the New Zealand captain) at the toss, and we'll have a minute's silence, I believe, before the game. "We are neighbours and we treat each other as brothers and we'll make sure we do that tomorrow."
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