Kane Williamson urges New Zealand to show "great attitude"

New Zealand fell to an 86-run defeat by Australia at Lord's, making it successive losses having gone down to Pakistan by six wickets at Edgbaston on Wednesday

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Kane Williamson has called for New Zealand to show "great attitude" after his side suffered their second World Cup defeat inside four days.

Australia beat New Zealand by 86 runs at Lord’s, making it successive losses, having gone down to Pakistan by six wickets at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

The Blackcaps will still book their place in the semi-finals if they overcome England in their final group fixture, or if England lose to India on Sunday and the captain is asking his side to move on with a positive mindset.

"For us, it is about moving on. Keep taking on the challenge with that great attitude and play with that freedom that, gives us the best chance of having success; but at the same time respecting the fact that anybody can beat anybody in this tournament,” he said.

"Despite perhaps having some success early, that doesn't change, as we've seen. We've had two losses, as well."

^{Williamson batting at Lord's}

While New Zealand’s impressive start has hit a couple of bumps in the road, Williamson insists thre will be no great post-mortem after the Lord’s loss.

"Rather than digging too deep, because often when you do, you're pretty much analysing something in the past, when, in fact, the challenge coming up can be quite different.

"So the challenge, I guess, is the fact that you perhaps have lost a couple. Maybe there's a dent in momentum. But then at the end of the day, it is coming back to the cricket that we want to play. 

"Playing with those smarts, I think cricket smarts throughout this tournament has been perhaps the most important thing. Even perhaps more than something like the word "freedom," which everybody wants to be able to achieve day-in, day-out.

"On these surfaces that have varied a bit, which has been great, great viewing, but you do need to be smart and adapt really quickly on them to give yourselves the best chance of success.

"At the end of the day, Australia out played us on that surface."

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