It’s a batsman’s World Cup: Hesson

Don’t expect the Cricket Word Cup run fountain to be plugged any time soon.

That’s the view of New Zealand coach Mike Hesson, who believes bat will continue dominating ball during the six-week event

All four winning teams so far have batted first and scored 300 or more – a figure once regarded as a rare gem.

Hesson believes that pattern from the first two days will continue on both sides of the Tasman.

“At this time of year the wickets are at their best, certainly in New Zealand,” he said.

“I imagine there will be plenty of runs.”

The small sized boundaries and extra power plays mean teams are no longer content to sit back and milk runs in safe style during the middle overs.

It has resulted in a change of approach from the Black Caps in the field.

“The sides that continue to attack with the ball are the ones that can turn 350 into 180,” he said.

“The new rules have created more boundary opportunities, therefore if you sit back and wait you can be chasing big totals.”

New Zealand reached 331 in the tournament opener against Sri Lanka and defended it with relative comfort.

Fellow heavyweights Australia, South Africa and India all did the same to notch first-up wins.

Another factor in the batting teams’ favour is the size of the modern bat.

The International Cricket Council is considering a reduction to the maximum depth of a bat, explaining that thicker blades have created enormous sweet spots. Mis-hits sailing to the boundary is becoming a more common sight.

New Zealand threaten to fashion an enormous total if they bat first against associate nation Scotland in their second pool game at Dunedin on Tuesday.

However, Scottish captain Preston Mommsen bristled at a reporter’s suggestion that they could concede 400 runs to the in-form co-hosts.

Mommsen pointed to their narrow loss to the West Indies in Sydney last week as evidence they can restrain cricket’s bigger hitters.

“Absolutely not. We came up against one of the best strikers in the world the other day in Chris Gayle and we managed to contain him very well.

“But we want to get New Zealand out before they get in, that’s obviously the key for us.”

RACKING UP THE RUNS

Game 1 – New Zealand 331-6 v Sri Lanka, win by 98 runs

Game 2 – Australia 342-9 v England, win by 111 runs

Game 3 – South Africa 339-4 v Zimbabwe, win by 62 runs

Game 4 – India 300-7 v Pakistan, win by 76 runs

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