David Leggat: 400 still a distant boundary

David Leggat

There's a bit of talk around suggesting 400 is about to become the new 300 in one-day internationals.

It's an intriguing thought. Gifted players armed with bats like cannons which possess giant sweet spots dishing out ritual floggings to trembling bowlers offered up as sacrificial goats on the altar of entertainment.

First, a few numbers.

On a heady day at Melbourne in 1983, Australia became the first team to pass 300 in a 50-over international. They made 302 for eight before running over New Zealand, either side of Lance Cairns lifting six balls into a joyous packed arena. It was the 182nd ODI.

A month later, Glenn Turner's 140 in 130 balls took New Zealand to 304 for five against Sri Lanka at Eden Park for the second 300-plus total.

There followed other notable totals over 300, such as the West Indies hitting 333 for five against India in December 1983 in 45 overs.

Forget those early 60-over internationals, and rub out those contests between a test-playing nation and Bermuda, Kenya, Ireland etc.

Thirty-three teams have gone past 350, starting with the West Indies' 360 for four against Sri Lanka in Karachi during the 1987 World Cup.

Six teams have seen 400 flip over on the scoreboard, including New Zealand with their 402 for two against the Irish at Aberdeen last year.

But only two - South Africa and Australia - have done it in a clash of the majors. At Johannesburg in 2006, Australia made 434 for four, only to be run over by South Africa's 438 for nine.

This week, India were two shots shy of 400 at Christchurch, and had they batted first in Hamilton on Wednesday and Virendar Sehwag gone about business in the manner he did, 201 for none off 23.3 overs would have sailed past 400.

But before jumping on the "400 set to become ho-hum" train, consider that certain things have to be in place for this to happen, and, with all due respect, let's consider only major v major ODI clashes.

The parameters will include smallish grounds. Sehwag this week reckoned New Zealand could be the venue when a batsman cracks 200 in an ODI innings for that reason.

The bowling attack will need to be sending along a reasonable number of pies. Sachin Tendulkar and Sehwag batted magnificently this week, but it's fair to say they've had more strenuous examinations.

The pitch will need to be a belter. It won't happen on green seamers or slow, turning strips.

That said, the advent of Twenty20 cricket has altered batsmen's awareness of the possibilities.

Brendon McCullum made the point this week that there is an appreciation that targets thought unattainable a few years ago are now on, given certain situations.

Those six totals over 400 were all put up in the last three years, but in 475 ODI matches going into today's match at Eden Park - proving that even the Netherlands, Scotland and others of that standing aren't that easy to dispatch to that degree.

So yes, there will be more of them. But anyone expecting a headlong rush to 400 and beyond, might need to recalibrate their thinking.