Legendary Australian batsman Matthew Hayden believes that New Zealand team would be exposed by the massive size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Sunday's World Cup final as he feels that Brendon McCullum's men have been sitting in comfort zone dominating on small grounds.
Labeling New Zealand's sensational semifinal win over South Africa as a huge result for Australia, Hayden believes that if Michael Clarke's men can get past India in their semifinal in Sydney on Thursday, then McCullum's men were their preferred opponents for the tournament decider.
Hayden said that Australia would much rather play the final against a New Zealand side that has been sitting in a comfort zone dominating on small grounds for the past two months, Stuff.co.nz reported.
The former Australian batsman said that there were a number of times in the semifinal against South Africa where the New Zealand batsmen appeared to be hitting big balls but they'd be getting caught three quarters of the way to the fence at the MCG.
Hayden pointed out that they're going to have to change the way they hit the ball.
Hayden said that honestly the size of Eden Park is ridiculous, adding that it shouldn't be a cricket ground. He said that if one can half throw the ball from the long off boundary to the opposite end it's too small.
New Zealand have played all of their pool and play-off matches at home and are now facing their first match of the cup across the Tasman where the tournament has been co-hosted.