Cricket: Friendly Australians confuse players

Daniel Vettori doubts that he will again experience being cheered by an Australian crowd.

The New Zealand spin bowler returned home yesterday with team-mates Stephen Fleming and Chris Cairns, still a tad bewildered after being adopted by the Melbourne crowd during the fund-raising match on Monday night.

During a one-dayer that raised more than A$14 million ($15.45 million) for the tsunami relief effort and was watched by a capacity 80,000-strong crowd, the three New Zealanders all impressed as the World XI beat an Asian XI by 112 runs.

Cairns lashed 69 runs off 47 balls, including two sixes worth a combined total of A$100,000 ($109,000); Vettori hit a quickfire 27 off 17 balls and then snared three wickets, and Fleming came in down the order to clip 30 off 28.

The workout was especially pleasing for the New Zealanders, not only because of the tremendous fund-raising response, but also because they were desperate for some top-level match-play after the Sri Lankan series was abandoned.

Vettori said it was a novel experience, not only playing alongside some of the biggest names in world cricket, but also being befriended by what he called the most aggressive supporters in the world.

"You don't often get cheered by an Aussie crowd so that was a bit different," he said. "Although, having said that, there were still a couple of comments passed that reminded me of where I was, and made sure I didn't get too comfortable."

Selected in the same side as Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist, he delighted in the unusual dressing-room atmosphere, and said he enjoyed the laidback approach of the world side.

In particular, he said he noticed the commitment of all the players to live up to the spirit of the occasion, and the absence of the usual nationalistic niggles that accompany ODIs.

"The game felt like an extravaganza or an exhibition despite the fact it carried full ODI status," Vettori said. "The point was to score as many runs as possible and to raise as much money as we could."

Vettori was also happy to take three wickets when he bowled, but was less pleased with conceding 58 runs off his 10 overs - something he put down to some mysterious field-placings.

"Not everyone was in the fielding positions I wanted, but that's the way it goes in games like that.

"The only time Ricky [Ponting] spoke to me was to ask what Fleming bowled - he was going to give him a roll."

Fleming echoed Vettori's sentiments last night, saying he thought he had arrived in the wrong country on Sunday when he was being processed at Melbourne customs.

"Usually they delight in telling you how badly you're going to be beaten, but this time they just wished me luck," Fleming said.

"It was weird, I wasn't sure where I was."