Kiwi pacer Mills calls for less flatter pitches, longer boundaries

New Zealand cricketer Kyle Mills says as a bowler, he would prefer to have less flatter wickets and more longer boundaries.

Napier: New Zealand cricketer Kyle Mills has said that as a bowler, he would prefer to have less flatter wickets and more longer boundaries.

He said that in New Zealand, the boundaries are too short in international cricket grounds. The 133-match veteran prepares to lead New Zealand`s attack against South Africa in tomorrow`s second ODI at McLean Park, a batsman`s paradise with side boundaries a tick over 50m each. "I`m a bowler so I`m going to be a little bit biased. I think the wickets are too flat and the boundaries need to go out further,” stuff.co.nz quoted Mills, as saying. He also said that the bats are all pretty good these days and a mishit can go for six. “I think Hamilton is ridiculous. The ropes are 4m in from the [advertising] boards; that`s absurd. Richard Levi probably would have got out three or four times if the rope was back on the boards," Mills said. Mills also labelled the straight boundaries at Eden Park, scene of Saturday`s third ODI, as "absurd". An edge there has to travel less than 50m to reach the rope after the pitch was rotated last summer. Mills drew parallels with golf, where courses are now being lengthened to accommodate longer hitters, and restrictions being placed on the technology of drivers. He also bemoaned less variety in pitches from city to city, as was the case a decade ago. For ODIs, Mills felt the rope should be placed as far out as possible. He said playing for Auckland at Colin Maiden Park, with its bigger boundaries, made them a better-equipped T20 team. Other grounds encouraged a block-bash mentality. ANI