An overwhelming proposition

Kiwis need to adapt to the sheer size of the MCG

BIG FACTOR: The vatsness of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue for the final, could have a say in the fortunes of New Zealand as it takes on co-host Australia on Sunday.

After Eden Park’s toy straight boundaries, New Zealand will have trouble adapting to the oceanic dimensions of the MCG. Or that is the perception.

After India’s loss to Australia, M.S. Dhoni predicted it would be one of the Kiwis’ biggest obstacles in the final.

“One of the biggest things that the New Zealand team will have to deal with is the size of the field,” he said. “In New Zealand you can get away with quite a few mistimed shots.”

Matthew Hayden accused New Zealand’s players of “sitting in a comfort zone” in his newspaper column while Aaron Finch said he had struggled to hit it to the boundary the first time he played at the MCG.

“It is a huge ground, the MCG, and I don’t think they have played there for a long time,” Finch said on his arrival at the Mebourne airport. “So it will be interesting to see how they go.”

Southee disagrees

Tim Southee, though, disagreed with such opinions here on Friday.

“We have got guys that have played a lot of cricket around the world, in grounds of various sizes — big grounds, small grounds. We have got enough experience of playing on big grounds.

“Although the grounds in New Zealand are small, we do have a couple of big ones. Hagley Park’s reasonably big. We’re not too worried about the size of the ground,” he said.

Having played all its matches at home, how New Zealand adapted to the pitch would be significant too, Dhoni reckoned. “Generally, what we have seen in New Zealand is that you get very good wickets,” he said.

“Hamilton is one wicket where it holds on a bit, but other than that, all the wickets have been just fantastic. But when you come to Australia, you get a bit of reverse swing, and at the same time you may get wickets where it’s slightly two paced, especially if you talk about the MCG.

“How to take risks will be something that’s very crucial, and in Australia they have that advantage of knowing the wickets well, and having three left-arm fast-bowlers in their armoury will certainly help them.”

Some of New Zealand’s players were at the MCG in October to acquaint themselves with the place ahead of the World Cup.

“They’re back again, and not just on an observation trip this time. It is unlikely they will be worried.