IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE: The MCG was packed for Saturday's clash between Australia and England.

The opening phase of the Cricket World Cup has emphasised the embarrassing state of New Zealand's sporting stadiums.

Just as the country was glowing over the Black Caps' impressive opening effort against Sir Lanka at the hastily built Hagley Oval, some perspective was put on proceedings when the coverage switched across the Tasman.

Australia's opening match was mind-blowing in comparison – 84,336 crammed into a revamped Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Iain McGregor/Fairfax NZ QUAINT: Christchurch's Hagley Oval, while beautiful, was unable to squeeze in nearly as many spectators as its cousin, the MCG, across the ditch.

Turn to yesterday with both countries hosting "neutral" matches and it was a similar story.

Hamilton's Seddon Park looked quaint as South Africa beat African neighbours Zimbabwe.

In Adelaide there was a massive carnival going on with 53,000 jamming the oval there for India's win over arch-rivals Pakistan with some of the scenes looking more like a Bollywood movie. Don't get me wrong, population and cricket's popularity will always put things on a different scale in Australia compared to New Zealand.

But it's clear we are going to be the "country cousins" in this tournament.

There are worthy sentiments in giving Christchurch such a central role to the New Zealand effort at this tournament. After all, they had the 2011 Rugby World Cup torn away from them by the shocking earthquake and it was the long-time home of New Zealand Cricket before the organisation headed to the commercial realities of Auckland.

It promises to be a good little cricket ground as development continues, well suited to the needs of New Zealand's regular season activities.

But it's when New Zealand starts to compete at the next level that things begin to look a little amateurish with temporary stands open to the elements.

The opening match in New Zealand probably deserved better in terms of crowd given the form of Brendon McCullum's team and the interest in the occasion.

But was there really anywhere better?

Eden Park will host the showpiece fixture when the Black Caps play Australia on Saturday week.

Capacity is about the only thing Eden Park has going for it. The ground remains one of the worst venues on the international circuit.

That's because it isn't a cricket ground. And it's not a rugby ground either. It's odd shape has it caught inbetween.

New Zealand missed a grand opportunity to nail down a stadium of national significance when plans to build a new facility for the last World Cup were foolishly shelved.

A bit like the ridiculous road and rail networks, the longer the city's thinkers linger, the bigger the problem gets.

Auckland's bitsy approach continues with cricket's plans to take over the traditional speedway headquarters at Western Springs.

It's why Christchurch needs to think long and hard about plans to eventually replace the earthquake ruined Lancaster Park.

The city needs a stadium to do it and the country justice in a bigger sense, delivering the Crusaders and the All Blacks something that will stand up in global comparisons.

Dunedin did the country proud with the state-of-the-art indoor stadium delivered in time for the Rugby World Cup. It looks a prototype that could serve other areas of New Zealand well, particularly with the country's notoriously poor winter weather.

But the Dunedin effort would need to be upscaled in terms of size if it was to compete for major rugby internationals like Bledisloe Cup matches.

As for Dunedin's blossoming cricket ground at the University Oval which hosts New Zealand clash with Scotland tomorrow, it will also fall into the "quaint" category when it is compared to what is in store from across the Tasman.

Wednesday's match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be played at Canberra's Manuka Oval. Australia's smallest ground might have us Kiwis thinking better about ourselves.

But not for long … the Gabba, SCG and WACA are all ready to join the fray and prove what sensible investment in sport can provide.

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