Park’s tiny dimensions play games with batsmen

From time to time, Eden Park loves playing games with batsmen.

She tempts them in, puts herself at their mercy and then sweeps the rug from under their spikes.

Batsmen love short boundaries. In cricket, that much is a given.

Problem is, particularly in the case of the queen of sports grounds in New Zealand, small boundaries don’t guarantee big runs.

It is a fact Australian teams have had reinforced the hard way during their last two trips to Auckland.

They were all out for just 151 in a nail-biting loss to New Zealand during the 2015 World Cup, the home side losing nine wickets in chasing down the meagre target. Last year the world’s No 1 side scored four runs less in a 159-run hammering at the hands of their hosts, one of two defeats which kept the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy on Kiwi soil.

In an international cricket sense, the angular dimensions of Eden Park are unique to say the least. That is just what you get when you play in a stadium much more used to fivepointers and sideline conversions than fours and sixes.

The small straight boundaries, around 55m in front of the batsman and a minuscule 45m behind, can’t help but stand out. The contrast of the sizeable distance to the rope in two corners of the ground make them seem even smaller.

Many a quality bowler has been left shaking their head or cursing under their breath as a mis-hit or a top edge sends the ball sailing into the stands.

Thankfully for those with leather in hand, boundary size cannot only create overzealous batsmen, it is also not the only factor in determining runs.

As was described by the Black Caps most experienced wielder of the willow, Ross Taylor, just a couple of days out from the start of the latest three-match Chappell-Hadlee one-day international series in Auckland.

‘‘[The pitch here] just has a bit in it,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t think there is a par score, some wickets here are 300, some are 200.

‘‘You just have to analyse it as quickly as possible, whether you’re batting or bowling [first].’’

Matthew Wade, Australia’s stand-in skipper for the injured Steve Smith, added another layer to Taylor’s comments.

‘‘Looking at the small boundaries you assume really high scores but it is quite difficult,’’ the gloveman said. ‘‘And it tends to swing here. That’s something you’ve got to get through, the first 10-15 overs are crucial.’’

Don’t fret, boundary lovers, none of this means you won’t get what you are after tomorrow.

These New Zealand and Australian teams have too much class and power within their batting lineups for the hoardings not to take a hammering.

Just know a high-scoring, highoctane contest is far from a sure thing.