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As if the bowlers haven't suffered enough, New Zealand's boundary hunter Brendon McCullum predicts a one-day international double hundred is within range of a host of hard-hitting cricketers.
The advent of Twenty20, the ODI power play, smaller boundaries and flat wickets have McCullum convinced the elusive 200-run barrier will be
reached by some ground-breaking batsman.
Sachin Tendulkar was on course to add that accolade to his list of achievements in Christchurch on Sunday when the Indian legend compiled an effortless 163 from 133 balls before a bruised abdominal muscle forced him to retire hurt.
Tendulkar had a maximum of 30 balls available to him when he called it quits after 45 overs and given the way he was dissecting the field, the diminutive right hander might well have managed what no other batsman had in the 2823-match history of one-day cricket.
McCullum certainly felt 200 was on.
"I think Sachin was a was a big chance the other day if he was able to stay at the crease."
New Zealand pace bowler Iain O'Brien, who ironically inflicted Tendulkar's debilitating blow in the previous game in Wellington, also suspected the tourists' talisman could have made India's 392-run onslaught at AMI Stadium even more memorable.
"Sachin was special and it was only an injury that halted him in a charge for 200.
"That's a pretty scary thing to think about; one player scoring that many runs in an ODI," said O'Brien, who was fortunate to be omitted from the New Zealand line-up.
McCullum, who has a top score of 166 against minnows Ireland in Aberdeen last year, said the Twenty20 format gave batsmen the scope to refine their hitting - a skill they could transfer to 50-over game.
"It (200) almost seems unachievable but wickets are getting better, boundaries are shorter and the power plays make it possible to maximise (hitting) later in the game."
He nominated the West Indies Chris Gayle - the only centurion in Twenty20 internationals - Tendulkar and his fellow opener Virender Sehwag as the type of dominant batsmen equipped to surpass Saeed Anwar's record ODI score of 194.
The Pakistani opener fell six runs short of history when playing India at Chennai in 1997 while other near misses have been recorded by West Indian `Master Blaster' Viv Richards (189 not out v England, 1989), Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning hero Sanath Jayasuriya (189 v India, 2000) and Tendulkar, who made a career best 186 not out against New Zealand at Hyderabad a decade ago.
South African Gary Kirsten, now coach of India, also makes the top five although his unbeaten 188 was taken from the amateurish United Arab Emirates during the 1996 World Cup.
New Zealanders other than McCullum have also give the double ton a nudge against low calibre opposition.
Former international Lou Vincent owns the highest ODI score of 172 - against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in 2005.
Current New Zealand cricket selector Glenn Turner sits second after making 171 not out against East Africa during the inaugural World Cup in 1975.
The venue of today's fourth one-day international between New Zealand and India also provided a possible setting for one of cricket's few remaining milestones when Australia played the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy dead rubber in February 2007.
Down 2-0, Australia seemed certain to prevent an unprecedented series whitewash against their neighbours when opener Matthew Hayden blasted 181 when carrying his bat through Australia's 349 for five.
However, Hayden's stunning attack was undermined by Craig McMillan (117) and McCullum's 86 not out as New Zealand sneaked home by a wicket.
New Zealand will likely need McCullum to play a similar match-winning hand as the home side try and prevent India exacting revenge for their 2-5 series loss here in 2002-03 by securing a 3-0 advantage before Saturday's final game in Auckland.
New Zealand's quest should be enhanced by the absence of Tendulkar, though the 35-year-old warned the Indian top and middle order would not be hampered by his unavailability.
"This is the best batting line-up I've been part of," said Tendulkar, whose international career began in 1989.
"We've got five or six guys that can clear the ropes at will, they can put the ball over the boundary any time they want.
"We know in the back of our minds with such an explosive batting line-up no target is impossible."
- NZPA
