New challenge for old-hand Vettori

At 36, Daniel Vettori seems like he's done it all in New Zealand cricket. He is the country's most-capped Test and ODI player of all time, has captained in all three formats, has played in World Cup semi-finals. But this Saturday will bring a new experience for Vettori, when he will bowl on the reconfigured Eden Park for the first time.

Of course, Vettori has plenty of experience at the venue: his 23 wickets at 29.95 makes him the most successful one-day spinner at Eden Park, where seamers dominate the all-time statistics. But Vettori has not bowled there since March 2010; the playing area has been altered in that time, with the pitch rotated and the straight boundaries shorter than ever.

Under the current layout, the straight boundaries are officially measured at 55 metres from the centre of the pitch. That means the batsmen will face a 65-metre boundary past the bowler, with a 45-metre boundary past the wicketkeeper. The margin of error for all bowlers is therefore slim, and the importance of find the right length is paramount.

Vettori may well go into the match as the only frontline spinner from either side, with Xavier Doherty unlikely to be called in for Australia, who tend to use Glenn Maxwell as their main slow-bowling option. Asked what it was like marking out a run-up with the boundary closer than at almost any other international ground on the planet, Vettori was honest.

"It's not great," he said. "I haven't actually played on these dimensions, I've only played on the old configuration. It will be a new experience for me. I've been talking to Nathan [McCullum] a lot about what he's done here. He's done a pretty good job. Spinners at times have done a reasonable job. The boundaries are daunting but you can still perform.

"Sometimes getting away with the short ball is a little more difficult, because of how short the boundaries at fine leg and third man will be. I think it's 45 metres from where the batter is facing."

Then there is the matter of the ODI fielding restrictions, which allow no more than four men outside the circle at any point, compared to five when the previous World Cup was held in 2011. With tongue firmly planted in cheek, Vettori suggested that perhaps that new rule would have less impact at Eden Park than at many other grounds.

"The boundary is so small the fielders don't really play a part do they, it just goes over them," Vettori joked. "I think you just get used to it. Whatever happens, you get used to it, the layout of the ground."

The way the stands rise dramatically around the ground adds to the feeling of proximity, and the Australians certainly expect to be the target of some taunts from the Auckland crowd. But it is the possibility of on-field banter that has been the subject of much debate, with Australia's yappy approach sitting in stark contrast to the way the New Zealanders play the game.

The New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said this week that his players don't get caught up in sledging - "We're pretty respectful of our opposition and we're competitive but we pretty much focus on our own job," Hesson said. Rather remarkably, Vettori said that in his experience, the Australians were in the same boat.

"It's a little bit overstated," Vettori said. "I think in my 18 years of playing, I can't even remember being sledged by an Australian team. I think the way it's portrayed is not quite right ... I think it's more about the physical contest. I think that's the thing guys get up for and get excited about."