Cricket World Cup: Kiwi pundits dismiss Australian's small-fish-big-pond sledge

Melbourne's climate, pitch conditions and massive away crowd could pose their own challenges in the much anticipated Cricket World Cup final. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Kiwi cricket luminaries have smacked away a sledge by Australian great Matthew Hayden, who reckons that our Black Caps will find themselves small fish in the Melbourne Cricket Ground's big pond come Sunday.

However, the Kiwi pundits warn that Melbourne's climate, pitch conditions and massive away crowd could pose their own challenges in the much anticipated Cricket World Cup final.

Hayden, who holds the highest test score by an Australian batsman, wrote in a column for news.com.au that the Kiwis had spent the Cup in a home-turf "comfort zone" and would have to change the way they hit the ball in Sunday's MCG-hosted match.

Hayden rubbished the "ridiculous" size of Tuesday night's glory ground, Eden Park, remarking: "If you can half throw it from the long off boundary to the opposite end, it's too small".

Black Caps coach Mike Hesson told Newstalk ZB that the team were "settling in nicely" in Melbourne.

He said he had laughed off comments that the MCG was too big for the Black Caps.

"We play all around the world... we've played at lots of grounds with big boundaries," he said.

Hesson said he realised New Zealand supporters were likely to be drowned out by the noise of the Australian supporters on Sunday.

"We'll definitely miss the home ground... but we certainly know they'll be over here supporting us."

Yesterday, former Black Caps approached by the Herald agreed that New Zealand might have to alter its game, but rejected any notion the MCG cauldron would swallow us.

Former fast bowler Chris Pringle dismissed the comments as typical big-brotherly intimidation by our old foes.

"It's another little dig isn't it? I think it's just another way of them trying to sow seeds of doubt. They are just saying, 'We are the big boys and we know more than you'."

Rather, Pringle felt the open ground would give big-hitting players like skipper Brendon McCullum more places to send the ball.

All-rounder turned commentator Scott Styris said he believed bigger challenges would be other foreign factors such as climate, pitch conditions and a crowd away from home.

Commentator and former opening batsman Mark Richardson also doubted size would matter.