I wasn't surprised to see a bit of aggro between New Zealand and Australia and I'm all for it.
So long as what we saw between Scott Styris and Mitchell Johnson in Napier doesn't go overboard, it's all good.
In a way, cricket needs less decorum. Over the past 15
years, officialdom has tried to remove the emotions from the game and the result has been a bit insipid.
Fiery clashes show that the game really means something to the players. I think that rather than going tut-tut, the spectators actually love that sort of thing.
Some of the innovations in cricket have helped build the tension, especially as bowlers are faced with shots that they don't know how to deal with.
There have been a few episodes in recent times, such as in the series between Australia and the West Indies, so it was half expected that this would carry over into the current battle.
Cricket has traditionally seen itself as a non-contact sport, yet are people really upset if they see a bit of push and shove? I don't believe so.
The wicket at Napier played a starring role in the opening match, which New Zealand won.
The wicket at Eden Park, where the second game will be played today, is never that great.
I'll be interested to see if Brendon McCullum introduces his now famous Twenty20 ramp shot into the one-day game and it could bring massive rewards at Eden Park, particularly towards the boundary in front of the old number one stand.
I do think he can use the ramp in the one-dayers, although it clearly requires a lot of courage in terms of the potential for physical damage and the prospect of being dismissed.
The stage is set for a fantastic contest and New Zealand has every chance of another victory.
Finally, we've got some real cricket action to delight over and as per usual, Australia are in the thick of the action. What a pity we can't get the Australians to tour here more often.
