Aussies to remind NZ of Cup dominance

Just in case New Zealand had forgotten, Shane Watson says he will remind the Black Caps of Australia's imperious record against them in global limited-overs tournaments when the two sides clash in the ICC World T20 on Friday.

New Zealand will head to Dharamshala full of confidence after humbling tournament favourites India in Nagpur on Tuesday to keep their five-match unbeaten run against MS Dhoni's men alive.

But they face a different prospect in Australia, a team they have lost to 11 times in 15 appearances in the two major global 50-over competitions – the World Cup and Champions Trophy. 

While the trans-Tasman rivals are yet to meet in the World T20, Watson says he will make sure Australia's dominant record in big matches will not be lost on the Black Caps.

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"Look there’s no doubt that the Kiwis always play very well and they always punch above their weight (in global tournaments), and they’ve been playing very good cricket especially over the last couple of years," Watson said. 

"But knowing the history I’ve had playing against the Kiwis, we’ve always played very well against them.

"There’s still quite a few people, players, who are still there in that New Zealand team who know that history and have been involved in the history as well. 

"So we’ll certainly be letting them know of that because they’re going to have to be at their absolute best to beat us."

Included in Australia's 11 wins are two wins in finals – the 2009 Champions Trophy and last year's World Cup in Melbourne.

Watson was named man of the match in the 2009 decider in Centurion, posting an undefeated 105 opening the batting to guide Australia to their target of 206 with six wickets in hand.

And the burly allrounder was out in the middle when Steve Smith hit the winning runs to hand Australia a seven-wicket win and their fifth World Cup at the MCG 12 months ago.

Three surviving Black Caps players - Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor and Grant Elliott - were involved in both matches, while eight members of the 2015 World Cup final defeat are in New Zealand's World T20 squad.

Faced with the daunting challenge of playing three Asian nations in the 'group of death', Australia will at least have familiar foe on Friday to begin their Word T20 campaign.

"In the end we are going to have to play well whoever we play in this tournament, no doubt," Watson said. 

"But knowing that there’s a good rivalry and a good history there, as well in big games that I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of against the Kiwis, hopefully it follows a similar route."

The Black Caps' stunning 47-run win over India has put more pressure on Australia to start the competition with a victory.

Watson, who has played 176 T20s, five World T20s and in various domestic competitions around the globe, including the Indian Premier League, says momentum is the key in T20 tournaments.

"It's very difficult if you lose the first game but the way Twenty20 cricket goes as well, if you get on to a roll, which you can in Twenty20 cricket, then you can be unstoppable," he said.

"It's not the absolute be-all and end-all if we lose the first game, but I've seen in so many tournaments that I've played in that if you get on a roll at the right time and qualify, that's when a lot of teams win the tournaments.

"But most importantly, to take the pressure off to start - it would be ideal if we put out a very good performance in the first game."