Historic Eden Park beckons New Zealand, Australia clash

Unique venue offers paradise for batsmen, nightmare for bowlers.


Afp February 26, 2015
The likes of Mitchell Johnson will strive to counter the big hitting and short boundaries. PHOTO: AFP

AUCKLAND: Seductive for batsmen, challenging for bowlers and frustrating for captains, Auckland’s Eden Park takes centre-stage on Saturday with the ground’s peculiar dimensions proving the major talking point for New Zealand and Australia.

With the boundary at just 55 metres at both ends and 65m on the square — much shorter than the International Cricket Council regulations of 64m minimum (straight) —the ground is exempt from current size demands as Eden Park has been staging international cricket since before 2007.

As a result, the compact, diamond-shaped ground means the Pool A clash between co-hosts New Zealand and Australia should be ripe for big scoring.

Explosive batsmen such as Glenn Maxwell, David Warner, Aaron Finch and Mitchell Marsh on one side and Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Corey Anderson and Luke Ronchi on the other will strive to match them shot for shot in front of a 40,000 sell-out.

“Both teams can swing the ball at the top of the innings with the two new balls, so I think that’s a strength of both sides, so if they go short it’s a bonus [for batsmen] when it’s swinging,” said Warner.

A daunting test for bowlers

Due to the number of rugby games played at Eden Park, drop-in pitches are used for cricket, which are flat and generally not helpful for bowlers.

But the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc on one side and Tim Southee and Trent Boult on the other will strive to counter the big hitting and short boundaries.

All-rounder Anderson admitted it will be a big challenge. “It’s a little bit daunting when you’re walking back to your mark and you can almost touch the boundary. That’s not the nicest feeling as a bowler but as a batter it’s nice,” said Anderson.

Australia will also take inspiration from the fact that Eden Park has been lucky for the former world champions with 11 wins in the 16 one-dayers played between the two sides while New Zealand have won just one of the last seven. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th,  2015.

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