The MCG’s size doesn’t scare high flying Kiwis

Rohit Mahajan

The Tribune News Service

Melbourne, March 26

The Kiwis have been earth-bound, bound to their own soil. New Zealand have played all their games on their own pitches, in their own conditions. They’ve overpowered all opposition there. They edged Australia, they beat South Africa, they dismembered England on home turf.

Now’s the time to fly-- and they’ve taken the flight across the sea and into Melbourne.

New Zealand’s wins in New Zealand have come with a caveat -- their swing bowlers were helped by helpful pitches and their batsmen were helped by the smaller boundaries of their stadiums. This, observers say -- and Australian observers shout this -- makes them underdogs in Sunday’s final.

Tim Southee, an alleged and leading beneficiary of the home advantage, would have none of this. Southee was the star when New Zealand routed England for 123, taking 7/33. He was in the support cast when they bowled Australia out for 151 in their group match, with 2/65 to left-arm Trent Boult’s 5/27. He and Boult definitely did benefit from conditions that supported their style of bowling.

Southee believes that they can replicate their recent successes in Australia; he believes that the massive Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue of the final, wouldn’t be a bother at all. “Although the grounds in New Zealand are small, we do have a couple of big ones,” he said. “We’re not too worried about the size of the ground.”

New Zealand haven’t played an ODI at the MCG for six years.

Michael Clarke, the Australian captain, has lavished praise on the New Zealanders, especially the bowling. “Their new ball bowling has been exceptional. I think we experienced that the game we played against them,” he said. “They've been able to swing the ball in New Zealand, but even if it hasn't swung, they've executed. They've bowled good areas.”

But Clarke also pointedly said: “I think the fact that the conditions are different will certainly help us, and we've played a fair bit of cricket throughout the summer at the MCG, as well. Conditions are a lot different to what New Zealand have been playing in in New Zealand.”

Much of the pre-match talk is hot air, but these factors -- the size of the ground and the lack of swing here -- should and must weaken New Zealand’s challenge.

Southee countered this by asserting that these factors are irrelevant.

He, instead, pointed out that New Zealand won the last time they played at the MCG.

"We haven't played here for a long time but there are half a dozen guys who were part of the last game we played here - we have good memories of that."

In that game, in February 2009, New Zealand kept Australia to 225, then chased down that total in the 49th over, losing only one wicket.

"The rivalry is massive, it covers every sport," Southee explained. “We're seen as the little brothers from across the ditch. We respect Australia, they're a quality side and they're not number one in the world for no reason. But I'm sure we've gained a bit of respect for the brand of cricket we've played over the last couple of years.”

They’ve got to their first final of a World Cup. They’ve got only one more match to win to get more respect. They’re going for it.