The long and short of the Eden Park boundaries

Fans are enjoying plenty of sixes at New Zealand's small grounds. Photo / Richard Robinson

Bowlers continue to do it tough when it comes to international cricket in New Zealand.

Smaller grounds, like in Auckland, Napier and Christchurch at present, mean bigger totals as teams struggle to defend the boundaries.

Looking at Eden Park yesterday, those marking out their run-ups would have been doing so in trepidation, especially when pounding in from the Broadcasting End.

Left-handers were salivating at the prospect of bringing the cut shot into action and the boundary at one part of the oval measured only 51 metres.

One-day bowlers suffer further disenchantment with batsmen-friendly wickets. The probability of a ball deviating and a miscued shot eventuating are increasingly dimmed on the brown, placid mats laid down.

Yet playing on rugby grounds is something of a way of life if you are in the New Zealand team. It's a constant which actually constitutes an advantage over Australia.

As Australia worked towards breaking their five-match losing streak this side of the Tasman, having batted first every time, the grounds have been a topic of discussion.

Looking back at the past five one-dayers in each country makes intriguing reading. In New Zealand, where the hosts have cobbled together an emphatic record lately, the average chase has been 286 or 5.72 runs an over. The Black Caps have achieved that every time, which includes the 149 in Wellington in 2007.

In Australia, on bigger grounds, the average chase was just under 225 runs last season - and the teams shared the spoils 2-2, with a rain-affected no-result.

Clearly it makes a difference when the boundaries are closer and less energy has to be translated into twos, threes and the more regular use of the limbs.

Shane Watson says it has definitely impacted on Australia: "I was involved in the last tour here and we got flogged every game. The big difference is the size of the grounds. It's something we've got to get used to and understand.

"Even if New Zealand need 100-120 in the last 10 overs, then it's still gettable. In Australia, the grounds are bigger and it's not as easy to score that amount of runs in a period of time.

"That's what we've got to get our heads around, no matter what, New Zealand are always in the game," Watson said.

According to the ICC, the minimum distance boundary-to-boundary square of the pitch is 130 metres while the straight boundary end-to-end has to be 55 metres from each set of stumps. In theory, at a cricket-specific ground that creates a perfect oval.

Sadly, the square sides to a ground like Eden Park mean those smooth lines face a jagged short-cut, meaning the eyes of batsmen widen more than normal when bowlers err off a preferred length and direction.

Having said that, Eden Park's dimensions will change for the better once the new refurbishments are complete.

The pitch will rotate 45 degrees directly in front of the new stand. Three extra metres of boundary will be also added in that direction.

The other nagging factor from observing the game last night is only temporary. As well as the 13,500 crowd egged the hosts on in fine chorus and soundly booed Mitchell Johnson, there is no substitute for a full amphitheatre.

At least next year's Rugby World Cup is a deadline approaching quickly. Looking out on to empty concrete seats and scaffolding for an entire game is dispiriting.

This is short-term pain, though. Expect quite a din from a full Eden Park in the future.

The park will also host game four on Thursday, while Hamilton's cricket-specific Seddon Park - on Tuesday - and dual-purpose Westpac Stadium next Saturday are the other venues.