- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Kiwis have turned the size of the MCG into a running joke on social media, but Aaron Finch believes it is no laughing matter.
Tweeters across the Tasman reacted with mirth following Matthew Hayden’s suggestion their cricket team will need to change the way they bat in Sunday’s Cricket World Cup final due to the larger size of the ground.
Finch was too busy carving out a gritty 81 in Australia’s semi-final against India to giggle at the hashtag #MCGsobig.
But the proud Victorian, renowned for his power hitting, revealed even he took time to adjust to cricket’s colosseum.
“The MCG is a huge ground and it is a place that can be quite intimidating … there’s going to be (almost) 100,000 people there,” Finch said.
“The first time I played there, I had no idea – I felt like I couldn’t hit it to the boundary.”
Finch suggested the conditions would be vastly different to last month’s pool match in Auckland, where Australia were skittled for 151 at Eden Park.
“Traditionally, the ball doesn’t swing a hell of a lot,” he said.
“I don’t think they’ve played there for a long time, so it will be interesting to see how they go.
“We’ve had a lot of success there as an Australian team over a long time, so we’re very confident.”
The Black Caps haven’t played a ODI at the venue since 2009.
Tim Southee was a part of the side that played in that six-wicket win against the likes of Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson.
Southee dismissed the idea his less-credentialled teammates would be unable to come to terms with the MCG.
“We’ve got guys who have played a lot of cricket around the world … we’ve got enough experience on big grounds,” the paceman said.
“A lot of the grounds in NZ are small but Hagley Oval is reasonably big. We’re not too worried … one of our strengths is that we’ve adapted to the conditions.
“A lot of the guys have played in front of big crowds in India … we’ll embrace the occasion.”
MS Dhoni weighed into the debate unprompted after his side’s semi-final loss to Australia, believing the venue could be one of New Zealand’s biggest hurdles to clear on the weekend.
“In New Zealand, you can get away with quite a few mistimed shots … you get very good wickets,” Dhoni said.
“In Australia, you get a bit of reverse swing and slightly two-paced wickets, especially at the MCG.
“How to take risks will be something that’s very crucial and Australia have that advantage of knowing the wickets well.”
Clarke wasn’t quite as forthright, but highlighted the fact conditions would be a “lot different to New Zealand”.
“But in saying that, we’re going to have to play our best cricket,” Clarke added.
“New Zealand have been the form team of the competition.”
Australia will have a low-key training session on Saturday, having spent most of Friday recovering from their semi-final.
MCG:
* Capacity: 100,000
* Playing area: About 20,000 square metres
* Highest ODI total: 8-344 by ICC World XI in 2005 Tsunami appeal match
* Highest successful ODI run-chase: 4-297 by Australia in 2011 ODI against England
EDEN PARK:
* Capacity: 41,000
* Playing area: 16,000 square metres
* Highest ODI total: 5-340 by New Zealand in 2007 ODI against Australia
* Highest successful ODI run-chase: 5-340 by New Zealand in 2007 ODI against Australia
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.