Eden Park was at capacity during New Zealand's Pool A test against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Photo / Greg Bowker.
Eden Park was at capacity during New Zealand's Pool A test against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Photo / Greg Bowker.
Over 40,000 fans packed into Eden Park for yesterday's epic World Cup clash between the Black Caps and Australia, but despite the huge success of the day, cricket's future at the ground remains decidedly shaky.
Plans are well underway to move international cricket away from Eden Park to Western Springs.Many cricket fans are on board with the move, but the carnival atmosphere at the ground yesterday may have given some punters pause for thought.
The match has been hailed as an instant classic, reviving and potentially outdoing the brilliant scenes from the New Zealand v Australia game at the 1992 World Cup, which also featured a huge crowd and a spectacular win for the home team.
One of the ironies about the campaign to move cricket away from Eden Park is that the ground has made a recent habit of delivering exhilarating matches.
Yesterday's is likely to top the lot, but it has some stiff competition.
Last season, the Black Caps dramatically beat India at the ground in one of the more memorable test matches in recent times. New Zealand scored 503 in the first innings, with Brendon McCullum scoring 224.
After rolling India for 224, the Kiwis were themselves bundled out for 105, leaving the game wide open. But a spectacular bowling performance from New Zealand's pace trio of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner swung the match to the Black Caps.
The season before that saw Eden Park stage another heart-stopping finish to a test match, this time against England. This was England of old, when they were a commanding force in world cricket and still boasted names like Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen.
The Black Caps scored 443 in the first innings, with Peter Fulton hitting 137. Trent Boult then ripped through the English, picking up six wickets in the process to give New Zealand a healthy first innings lead. That was then augmented by another Peter Fulton ton.
McCullum's declaration left England the daunting prospect of having to hang on for a day and a bit to rescue a draw. Which they did, by the skin of their teeth. The Black Caps toiled away valiantly for nine wickets, but were stymied by Matt Prior's brilliant 110.
