New Zealand captain Kane Williamson: "The cloud is going to hang about a bit and it's cold, there might be a bit of swing but we'll have a bat.

"There was consideration to making some changes but we've kept it the same again. There's always a tough game, Pakistan are very strong side but we are looking to build on out displays.

"Naturally the support that Pakistan have gives a great atmosphere, we are looking forward to it. Every game has similar feelings riding on it - we are looking to play the cricket we want."

New Zealand XI: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.

Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Sarfaraz Ahmed (c&wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi.

Sarfaraz says he "definitely" wanted to bat first. Whoops.

Pakistan are unchanged as well.

New Zealand are unchanged, which means there's still no Tim Southee for the Black Caps.

And it's a heads!

New Zealand will have a bat first up.

Kane Williamson throws the coin, Sarfaraz shouts tails...

Right, let's have a coin toss.

AS: If anyone can be beat the in-form team of the World Cup in NZ its Pakistan. All depends on which Pakistan turns up today.

Hampstead Ponds Film: NZ are very good, but not world-beaters and we're due being on the wrong side of a tight game. I'd prefer it today than against Aussie at Lord's (especially as I'll be there!)

If my boss is reading this, then I am more than happy to go to a work trip to New Zealand to write about this subject.

Just saying.

Image source, Getty Images

We've become a bit obsessed this morning with the fact that New Zealand and its population of 4,969,520 could well win this World Cup - and the rugby union World Cup in the same year.

For a country with fewer residents than Scotland, Costa Rica, Norway or Hong Kong that's pretty good going.

Best pound-for-pound sporting nation on Earth?

A quick reminder of the table - victory today will secure New Zealand's semi-final spot.

Pakistan picked up a six-wicket win in their last men’s ODI against New Zealand, ending a 12-game losing streak against the Black Caps.

This will be the ninth time they've met at a World Cup; the Black Caps won their first and most recent meetings, though they bookend a six-game losing run against Pakistan at the tournament from 1983 to 1999.

Umpire Paul Reiffel: "It has dried pretty well and the guys are warming up now, they don't seem to have any problems. All good, I think. We still have 15 minutes of extra time available, so there's still time up our sleeve."

Asked if he enjoyed Australia's win over England yesterday: "I thought it was a great game of cricket!

Marc Sepetowski: Say we do make it to the semi-finals, who would we most want to face? For me, I would take Australia as I still think we are the better team when both playing 100%.

The match will still be 50 overs a side and it looks like there'll be no more rain today.

Which is good because I really, really can't take any more rain delays.

We're going to have some cricket!

I see umpires...

Charles Dagnall
BBC Test Match Special at Edgbaston

As we have had our first look at the pitch, it is used, it is straw-coloured but there are very dark spots where the bowlers have followed through.

Strong winter wear from Jeremy Coney, here.

A quick reminder that it's June...