New Zealand has time again produced some absolute run feasts and these days is a favored destination for batsmen. The main reason behind that have been the ultra small dimensions of the ground, backed up with great batting decks and a lightening quick outfield. The Eden Park in Auckland for example, has the straight boundary at a distance of just 55 meters.
As Australia head into the ODI series after a convincing 4-1 home series win over India, the Kangaroos too have similar expectations from the conditions in New Zealand. Australian all rounder James Faulkner, who himself is a brutal striker, said that he expects scores in excess of 350 to be scaled down during the upcoming series.
“There’s no reason why teams can’t get 350 or 400,” Faulkner said. “A lot of it just comes down to conditions. If it’s swinging around, which we think it would over there, the ball will be moving like it did throughout the World Cup. It’s obviously a lot tougher and early wickets tend to fall. Every team at the moment is setting up to go hard in the first 10, consolidate through the middle and try and have wickets in the shed to try and launch,” the all rounder said.
Faulkner acknowledged that the small boundaries would come into the picture. “Especially with the smaller boundaries, I think if you find the ball isn’t moving, there will be high scores. But if it is, it’s obviously a lot tougher for the opening batsmen to adjust. More times than not at the moment 300 tends to be the base and every run over that is so valuable because every single batter in most teams can bat these days, so it makes it really tough for the bowlers.”
“I think it’s just the way the game has changed (high scoring ODI’s),” he said. “When the first rule came out with only four fielders outside the circle and the Powerplay between 35 and 40, it really shook the game up and I think initially it was a bit of a shock – a lot of people were seeing bowlers going for 70 or 80 off their 10 overs and thinking gee they’ve been whacked around the park compared to what it used to be back in the day of 40-45.”