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Exactly how much money have Fulham spent on new players in this millennium?

One of the most iconic clubs in London, Fulham have had their share of highs and lows in the Premier League era.

The Cottagers peaked when they reached the 2010 Europa League final.

After 13 consecutive seasons in the Premier League, Fulham were relegated in 2014 and since then, changed divisions from time to time before being promoted back to the top tier after winning the 2021-22 Championship title.

Over the years, some great players have featured for Fulham. We all know Louis Saha and Dimitar Berbatov, but did you know, even the legendary George Best featured for them, albeit for just one season?

So, who are Fulham's most expensive transfers since the turn of the millennium?

Let's take a look!

Fulham most expensive transfers by season

SEASON

MOST EXPENSIVE SIGNING

FEE

TOTAL SPENDING

2022/23

Joao Palhinha

£18M

£55.26M

2021/22

Harry Wilson

£12.60M

£19.80M

2020/21

Anthony Knockaert

£10.53M

£33.53M

2019/20

Ivan Cavaleiro

£10.62M

£33.30M

2018/19

Jean Michael Seri

£27M

£104.85M

2017/18

Rui Fonte

£6.18M

£18.15M

2016/17

Ragnar Sigurdsson

£4.23M

£23M

2015/16

Tom Cairney

£3.78M

£7.80M

2014/15

Ross McCormack

£10.62M

£15.69M

2013/14

Konstantinos Mitroglou

£13.68M

£26.37M

2012/13

Dimitar Berbatov

£4.50M

£9M

2011/12

Bryan Ruiz

£10.80M

£16.31M

2010/11

Mousa Dembele

£5.40M

£9.95M

2009/10

Damien Duff

£3.60M

£6.39M

2008/09

Andy Johnson

£11.97M

£24.17M

2007/08

Diomansy Kamara

£8.10M

£45.39M

2006/07

Franck Queudrue

£4.05M

£12.42M

2005/06

Michael Brown

£2.07M

£5.90M

2004/05

Papa Bouba Diop

£8.10M

£12.56M

2003/04

Collins John

£3.15M

£7.63M

2002/03

Facundo Sava

£2.70M

£2.70M

2001/02

Steve Marlet

£15.84M

£45.54M

2000/01

Alain Goma

£5.40M

£13.52M

Total

£549.23M

Fulham top 10 most expensive player signingsGetty Images10Andy Johnson | £11.97 million | Everton | 2008

One of the stars of the early 2000s in the Premier League, Andy Johnson started at youth level at Birmingham City before joining Crystal Palace for £1.04 million in July 2002.

Johnson made 140 appearances for Palace, scoring 74 goals. After Palace failed to gain promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2005-06 campaign, Johnson made the move to Everton for £9.90m in July 2006.

The English international played 61 games for The Toffees, scoring 17 goals over two years before Fulham signed him for £11.97m in July 2008.

Johnson scored 13 goals in 86 appearances between 2008 and 2012 for the Cottagers.

He moved to QPR in 2012 before returning to Palace and retiring at Selhurst Park.

AdvertisementGetty Images9Harry Wilson | £12.60 million | Liverpool | 2021

Welsh winger Harry Wilson was highly rated ever since the time he joined Liverpool's youth academy in 2005 as an eight-year-old.

Wilson rose through the ranks at Melwood to make his first team debut for the Reds in January 2017 in a 1-0 away win over Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup.

A year later, he was moved on loan to Hull City followed by similar moves to Derby County, Bournemouth, Cardiff City and Fulham.

Fulham decided to make his move permanent in the summer of 2022, signing the talented winger for £12.60 million.

GettyImages8Konstantinos Mitroglou | £13.68 million | Olympiacos | 2013

After rising through the ranks at Borussia Monchengladbach's youth team, Konstantinos Mitroglou featured for their U-19 team for one season between 2006-07.

In the summer of 2007, the Greek striker joined Olympiacos in a £180,000 move.

He made 92 appearances, scoring 41 goals for the Greek side, helping them claim their 36th league title in his first season at the club.

In January 2014, Fulham signed Mitroglou for £13.68m and after making just three appearances for them in seven months, he was loaned back to Olympiacos.

In August 2015, he moved to Benfica for a season-long loan, before the Portuguese giants signed him for £6.3m.

Benfica sold him for more than double that amount when they shipped him to Marseille for £13.50m in the summer of 2017.

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Getty7Alfie Mawson | £15.17 million | Swansea | 2018

Alfie Mawson started his career at youth level at Reading before moving to Brentford, where he was loaned out to multiple clubs until Barnsley signed him in 2015 in a free transfer.

In his first and only season at Barnsley, the centre-back performed well, scoring eight goals in 49 appearances and coming up with inspiring defensive performances.

In 2016, Swansea City signed him for £5.31 million and he played in the Premier League for the first time. In the 2017-18 season, Mawson scored a memorable goal in Swansea's 1-0 home win against Liverpool.

However, they got relegated that season and newly promoted Fulham brought him back to the Premier League for £15.17m.

Timothy Weah has been ruled out of Juventus' clash with Napoli on Friday as the USMNT star's return to action has been delayed again.

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Weah got injured against Hellas VeronaContinues to recover from a thigh issueWould miss the clash against Napoli WHAT HAPPENED?

The Bianconeri will have to take the pitch against the reigning Serie A champions without Weah in their matchday squad. The 23-year-old is still nursing a thigh injury which he had picked up against Hellas Verona in late October.

AdvertisementWHAT MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI SAID

Speaking to reporters, Juventus manager, Massimiliano Allegri informed: "Everyone has recovered except Weah. I'll decide between Danilo and Alex Sandro tomorrow."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Medical reports revealed that Weah had suffered an injury on the semitendinosus of his right thigh. Although it was referred to as a “low-grade” setback and was expected that the player would be fit to resume action after the November international break, that has not been the case.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Weah has missed the last four Serie A games due to the injury. Allegri might continue to use Weston McKennie in his absence as he did against Inter and Monza. Whereas, Andrea Cambiaso is another option who can also be deployed on the right side of midfield.

Manchester City star Chloe Kelly was given the team's October Player of the Month award.

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Kelly voted Man City's best player for OctoberAttacker scored decisive goals in WSLWas presented with award by team-mate Esme MorganWHAT HAPPENED?

The 25-year-old was named the women's team's top performer for the month in a fan vote, beating Khiara Keating and Jill Roord to the award. She scored decisive goals against Chelsea and Leicester as City picked up vital points in the Women's Super League. Kelly has since struck three times and registered an assist in matches against Arsenal and Liverpool in November.

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The former Arsenal and Everton player has been key for Gareth Taylor's team. City are currently sixth in the WSL, six points behind reigning champions and current leaders Chelsea. Asked by team-mate Esme Morgan to sum up the month of October in three words, the attacker said: "Heart, goals, energy".

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR KELLY?

Kelly will hope to maintain her excellent form when she and her City co-stars take on rivals Manchester United in the WSL on Sunday. That game will be followed by a FA Women's League Cup match against Leicester on November 22.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Sunil Narine cannot bowl in the Champions League T20 final on Saturday, after he was reported for a second time in two matches for a suspect action

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Oct-20141:38

Kalra: Narine will be under intense scrutiny

Sunil Narine has been barred from bowling for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Champions League T20 final on Saturday after being reported for a second time in two matches for a suspect action. He was reported by the umpires after Thursday’s semi-final against Hobart Hurricanes, which Knight Riders won by seven wickets. He had also been reported following their final group match, against Dolphins, when the umpires questioned his quicker delivery.ESPNcricinfo understands that this time the umpires, Rod Tucker, S Ravi and Vineet Kulkarni, had noted in their written complaint that several of the 24 deliveries Narine bowled against Hurricanes were suspect. “It was three deliveries in the last match. But this time all his four overs were reported,” an official privy to the complaint said.No official from Knight Riders’ management responded to queries, so it is not yet known whether the franchise might appeal against the penalty.According to a Champions League T20 release, the umpires reviewed footage of the semi-final and “felt that there was a flex action in Narine’s elbow beyond the acceptable limit when bowling during the match”. He had already been on the tournament’s warning list and, since he had not subsequently had his action cleared, is now automatically banned from bowling further in the tournament.Knight Riders will now be “advised” to send Narine to the Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai – which has been accredited by the ICC as a testing centre for suspect bowling actions – to have his action tested.The bowling ban will not affect his West Indies duties, though – it is confined only to the Champions League T20 and other BCCI-organised tournaments, including the IPL.Darren Sammy, Narine’s West Indies team-mate, came out in support of him on Thursday, prior to him being reported a second time. “I am not worried. Narine is a champion. Whether they stop him from bowling the faster ball, he is still the most dangerous spinner in the world,” Sammy had said. “I believe that he will still be a great asset to us. He will do whatever he has to do and have all his different tricks up his sleeves by the time the World Cup is here. I still feel he will be our a champion spinner.”Narine is the fourth bowler to be reported in the Champions League – the others are Lahore Lions’ Adnan Rasool and Mohammad Hafeez, and Dolphins’ Prenelan Subrayen. However, he is the first bowler to be reported a second time. This comes at a time when the ICC has been stepping up its action against suspect bowling actions, with several spinners being called and suspended from bowling in international cricket.It comes as a big blow to Knight Riders, as they look to extend their T20 winning streak to 15 and secure the double of winning the IPL and the Champions League T20 in the same year.

Alastair Cook will prepare for England’s tour of West Indies by playing for MCC in Abu Dhabi after being named in the squad for the Champion County match against Yorkshire and the Emirates T20 tournament which precedes the four-day fixture

Andrew McGlashan22-Jan-20150:36

‘Cook and Compton can rekindle their partnership’

Alastair Cook will prepare for England’s tour of West Indies by playing for MCC in Abu Dhabi after being named in the squad for the Champion County match against Yorkshire and the Emirates T20 tournament which precedes the four-day fixture.However, Cook, who was sacked as England’s one-day captain last month, will not lead the side with that honour going to his former Test opening partner Nick Compton with the pair set to be reunited at the top of the order.Alastair Cook will hope to find some form before heading to West Indies•Getty ImagesAlongside Cook and Compton, Michael Carberry makes it a trio of recent England openers in the side for the match which begins on March 22. The fixture against the County Champions has been played in Abu Dhabi since 2009 and takes place under floodlights with a pink ball.The Cook-Compton opening pairing only lasted nine Tests before it was separated shortly before the 2013 Ashes when Compton’s poor form in two home Tests against New Zealand persuaded the selectors to change tact and promote Joe Root up the order.However, they had formed a successful combination, averaging 57.93 over their 17 innings together. That included stands of 123 and 165 against India – the second of those helping to set up victory in Kolkata – followed by a 231-run stand against New Zealand in Dunedin.England play a three-Test series in the West Indies from April 13. They have two two-day warm-up matches before the first Test in Antigua, but the MCC fixture will be Cook’s first first-class outing since the final Test against India, at The Oval, last August.MCC squad

Alastair Cook, Nick Compton (capt), Michael Carberry, James Hildreth, Zafar Ansari, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings, Matt Dunn, Chris Rushworth, Graham Onions, Adam Riley, Paras Khadka (T20 only)

Graham Onions is the other player in the XI who has Test experience with the rest of the side comprising seasoned county cricketers and some of the up-and-coming talent from the domestic game.Sam Billings, the Kent wicketkeeper-batsman, his team-mate Adam Riley and Surrey quick Matt Dunn – who have all been involved with England Lions in South Africa – have earned call-ups. Billings and Riley are graduates of MCC Universities as is Surrey allrounder Zafar Ansari.”Of course to have a batsman of Alastair Cook’s calibre involved shows the standing this fixture has in professional cricket and I’m delighted to have him at the top of the order,” John Stephenson, the MCC’s head of cricket, said.”This is certainly the strongest team we’ve ever selected for this fixture and it’s great to see a good number of MCC Universities alumni involved too. There’s an excellent blend of youth and experience, and I’m sure Nick Compton will lead the group expertly.”Paras Khadka, the Nepal captain, is also part of the squad for the T20 matches and MCC are set to announce “an international T20 star” next week.

England secured their largest runs victory in an ODI at Edgbaston as rampant hundreds from Jos Buttler and Joe Root led them beyond the new watermark of 400 for the first time in an ODI

The Report by Andrew McGlashan09-Jun-2015England 408 for 9 (Buttler 129, Root 104, Rashid 69, Morgan 50, Boult 4-55) beat New Zealand 198 (Taylor 57, Finn 4-35, Rashid 4-55) by 210 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:16

How should England shape their ODI future?

The proclamation of a new era in England’s one-day cricket has been a regular event for the last 20 years. The end results have usually been so underwhelming as to not get carried away by one performance, but never has a phase of rebuilding begun in such barnstorming style as they managed at Edgbaston. England secured their largest runs victory in an ODI as rampant hundreds from Jos Buttler and Joe Root led them beyond the new watermark of 400 for the first time in an ODI.Buttler, who already held the record of England’s fastest ODI hundred with his 61-ball ton against Sri Lanka, at Lord’s, last year slotted himself in at No. 2 as well with a free-wheeling 66-ball effort. Barely an hour earlier, Root had stood at No. 3 on the list with an equally outstanding 71-ball hundred but by the end of the innings – which included a world-record seventh-wicket stand of 177 in 17 overs, between Buttler and Adil Rashid, and an England record 14 sixes – he had to be content with fourth.The final total of 408 – surpassing their previous best of 391 made against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge in 2005 – was the 16th total over 400 in ODIs. Five of those have come since the start of 2015, encompassing the World Cup, highlighting, if any further evidence was required, just how far behind the pack England’s one-day game had become. The mark was passed when Liam Plunkett cleared the ropes in the final over.New Zealand were only ever going to attempt the chase in one way: at the end of the first over they had 11 runs on the board but Steven Finn had won a personal battle with Brendon McCullum when the New Zealand captain charged and missed, evening the scales somewhat after the onslaught he inflicted in Wellington. Finn bagged 4 for 35 and Rashid capped England’s day by following his maiden half-century with 4 for 55. From the moment Grant Elliott was run out by a superb throw from debutant Sam Billings at third man, New Zealand lost their last seven wickets for 38.England could not have done more to live up their pre-series talk of releasing the shackles of a debilitating World Cup campaign (and arguably a backward mindset to one-day cricket that stemmed back to 1992). When they suffered a mid-innings wobble, losing 4 for 31 in seven overs, there was a risk that the 121-run stand in 15 overs between Root and Eoin Morgan would be wasted, but that could not have proved further from the truth.Despite being six wickets down at 30 overs, Buttler and Rashid, playing his first innings for England since 2009, played New Zealand at their own game. The batting Powerplay – so often England’s downfall – brought 56 runs. Buttler needed just 24 deliveries for his second fifty while Rashid reached his fifty from 37 balls, although before unleashing Buttler shrewdly saw off Trent Boult, the main threat with four wickets.It will barely be remembered but England’s latest new era did not have the most auspicious of starts when Jason Roy, playing his second ODI but batting for the first time after the rain-ruined match in Ireland, drove the first delivery of the day, from Boult, to Martin Guptill at backward point.Boult made the major inroads for New Zealand, removing both openers then returning to end Root’s magnificent hundred on his way to 4 for 55. Those wickets encouraged Brendon McCullum to bowl him out by the 33rd over – although that was only an extension of his World Cup tactics – but without the rested Tim Southee and to a lesser extent the injured Corey Anderson, he did not have the same depth of resources to quell England’s extraordinary second charge. Mitchell McClenaghan was taken for 93 from his 10 overs, the fourth-most expensive figures for a New Zealand bowler, while Elliott and debutant Mitchell Santner were used at the death.The response to the early loss of Roy was an enlightened one from England as they lived up to their promise of aggression by taking on the New Zealand new-ball attack. Root and Alex Hales added 50 in seven overs, forcing Brendon McCullum to turn to spin, in the form of his brother, as early as the fifth over before Boult struck for a second time when Hales top-edged a pull.Then came the first major stand of the innings as Root and Morgan – two of the most established players in a young side – took up the cudgels in a 93-ball partnership which left the Edgbaston crowd in raptures and put McCullum under the sort of pressure he has not often felt in one-day colours in recent times.Morgan’s first boundary was a confident strike over long-off against Nathan McCullum and one of outcomes of England’s aggression was an earlier-than-usual reduction in New Zealand’s slip cordon to the pacemen. Root benefited when he edged McClenaghan between the keeper and Ross Taylor at a wide lone slip to bring up his fifty from 41 balls. Later, in the 37th over, Buttler would also bisect the same gap off the same bowler when he was on 33, although a single slip was understandable by then.A top-edged six from Morgan brought up the hundred stand from 84 balls and his fifty, just a third in 29 ODI innings, came off 45 balls before he was pinned lbw by McClenaghan – an on-field decision confirmed by the DRS. The innings then stuttered and when Santner won the battle of the debutants against Billings – this time a decision overturned by the DRS – England had reached the point of the innings when ‘double the score’ becomes the catchphrase with only four wickets remaining.Yet they still doubled the score, in breathtaking fashion. Rashid struck the first six of a partnership that would include seven of them when he took on Santner, whose seventh over then cost 19, as the pair started to find top gear and Buttler went to fifty from 42 deliveries. Ten of the last 14 overs of the innings went for double figures, including 18 off the 47th bowled by Elliott. Rashid had been given a life on 37 when Matt Henry’s hands, rather the ball, broke the stumps in a run-out attempt.Buttler gave a tough chance to deep midwicket on 90 which Taylor could not gather as he ran in and in the next over went to his second ODI hundred with a drilled boundary through the off side, which had been peppered throughout his innings.While New Zealand are much more than a one man team, it was the sort of mammoth target that needed 20 overs of McCullum. Instead, Guptill tried to set a strong early tempo before edging a heave against Finn who also managed the notable feat of the day’s only maiden over. He later added Taylor, who top-scored with 57 off 54 balls in what was an encouraging performance.The most eye-catching bowling, though, came from Rashid. Enjoying a day with a mountain of runs to play with, he lured Kane Williamson into finding long-off in his second over, helping to settle the nerves. His googly was in good working order and in his ninth over he had Santner well caught at slip then spun a wrong ‘un through Luke Ronchi’s first-ball sweep. Another followed when Henry was lbw, albeit to one that would have spun past leg stump. Still, an English legspinner in one-day cricket – whatever unfolds for this England team, for one day at least it did feel like a new era.

Cesc Fabregas's wife Daniella Semaan has slammed reports that claimed Lionel Messi had an affair with an Argentine journalist.

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Fabregas' wife denies Messi's alleged affairThe Argentine reportedly cheated on wife AntonellaReported in Brazilian mediaWHAT HAPPENED?

According to the Brazilian media outlet , the Inter Miami star is apparently facing a crisis in his married life and is on the verge of splitting up with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo after he allegedly had an affair with Argentine journalist Sofia Martinez.

But Cesc Fabregas' wife Daniella Semaan, who is extremely close to the Messi family, has denied the rumours and slammed the media report

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Replying to an Instagram post, Semaan wrote, "What publication is this that has no meaning.. and has nothing right."

Messi and Roccuzzo have known each other since childhood and have been in a relationship for 15 years. The couple got married in 2017 and has three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.

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The claims that there have been reports in Argentina as well that claim that the 36-year-old star is allegedly in love with a woman and it is not his wife Antonella.

Journalist Sofia Martinez came into the limelight during the World Cup for her famous and passionate speech addressing the Argentina skipper after he guided his team to the final beating Croatia in the semis. She thanked the Barcelona legend on behalf of all Argentines.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR LIONEL MESSI?

Messi is currently enjoying the off-season after Inter Miami's MLS campaign ended last month. He was recently seen in action for La Albiceleste who played World Cup qualifying matches against Uruguay and Brazil.

Megan Rapinoe will not be heading into retirement just yet, with the USWNT icon helping to fire OL Reign into the NWSL play-offs.

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All-time great preparing to hang up her bootsNot ready to call it a day just yetWill face Angel City FC in the post-seasonWHAT HAPPENED?

The 38-year-old forward, who earned 203 caps and scored 63 goals for her country, will be hanging up her boots when the 2023 season comes to a close. She has not reached that point just yet, with a well-taken brace against the Chicago Red Stars ensuring that OL Reign are heading into the post-season.

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Two-time World Cup winner Rapinoe was never going to bring the curtain down on her remarkable career without making a few more headlines, and a fitting finale remains on the cards after delivering more moments of magic against the Red Stars.

DID YOU KNOW?

Rapinoe’s first goal in a 3-0 win for OL Reign saw her drift inside from the left before curling a dipping strike into the bottom corner. She repeated that trick a matter of minutes later when whipping another effort into the back of the net via the inside of the post.

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

A comfortable victory on the final day of the NWSL regular season has seen OL Reign wrap up a fifth-place finish. Rapinoe will now take in at least one more game before calling it a day, with Angel City FC next on the agenda for her.

Shreyas Iyer made a sparking century to put Mumbai in the lead against Saurashtra, despite late strikes, on the second day of the Ranji Trophy final in Pune

The Report by Shashank Kishore in Pune25-Feb-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsShreyas Iyer continued his excellent form and made his sixth first-class century•John Michel There are those who take the pitch out of the equation when they bat. Then there are others whose presence makes the pitch look its lively best. On the second day, Saurashtra witnessed both as 40-time champions Mumbai lost a clutch of wickets after Shreyas Iyer’s sparkling century, leaving the Ranji Trophy final delicately poised in Pune.For an hour in the morning, Mumbai were rattled and perhaps even caught off guard by Jaydev Unadkat’s late onslaught, a 26-ball 31 that lifted Saurashtra from their overnight 192 for 8 to 235. Then, his twin blows accounted for the Mumbai openers – Akhil Herwadkar (0) and Bhavin Thakkar (6). Iyer, who walked out in a pressure situation, countered with a fine blend of timing and power.His sixth first-class century, with 15 fours and two sixes, made him the highest run-getter in a season for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy history. It helped them wipe out the deficit before a lower-order collapse left Mumbai at 262 for 8, with a lead of 27, when stumps were drawn.Saurashtra, who could have been buried if not for Iyer’s loose dismissal, would need to ensure they dismantle the tail cheaply and blunt the bowling on the third morning, when the surface is usually at its menacing best.Time will tell whether Arpit Vasavada’s dropped catch of Iyer could become the Indian version of Steve Waugh’s famous line: ‘you just dropped the cup, mate.’ But there was no denying the fact that it had a big bearing on the turn of events. Mumbai were 0 for 1 when Iyer came out playing positively and were soon reduced to 23 for 2; he raced to 37 before nicking to second slip, where Vasavada grabbed at the ball, only to see it bobble out.A third wicket just before lunch would have handed the advantage to Saurashtra but that missed opportunity punctured them. Over the next two hours and a bit, Mumbai showed why they bossed the domestic circuit. The surface did ease out as the day progressed, but not to the extent that Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav, who put together 152 for the third wicket, made it look.While Mumbai’s bowling attack had benefited from the persistence of Balwinder Sandhu and Abhishek Nayar, who played the holding role superbly to complement Dhawal Kulkarni, Saurashtra’s attack started and ended with Unadkat during the course of the bludgeoning stand.When Unadkat had the new ball in hand, it looked like the game was played on a different surface. He made deliveries hold their line to trouble batsmen. With the back-up bowlers Hardik Rathod, Deepak Punia, Chirag Jani and Prerak Mankad offering drivable deliveries at a friendly pace, it was a batting feast for Iyer, with Suryakumar providing able assistance.But the ease with which Iyer was scoring runs, perhaps brought out one big hit too many and an attempted loft over the infield resulted in a miscue to mid-off, shortly before tea. Saurashtra’s reaction – relief, and not elation at having dislodged the key batsman – summed up the state of the game. After the dismissal, however, Aditya Tare and Suryakumar, looked to sustain the healthy scoring rate, but a change of ball brought about a change of luck for Saurashtra.Tare was consumed by late swing as the bat came down at an angle, leading to a nick to the cordon. Suryakumar continued the trend of edging behind as he poked away from the body to give Punia his first wicket. Nayar then made a streaky 19, surviving another dropped chance by Vasavada, before playing down the wrong line to a full ball. A wobble turned into a proper crisis when Kulkarni and Shardul Thakur were dismissed off consecutive deliveries from a fired-up Rathod.The extent to which Saurashtra made up for lost ground became evident as Mumbai’s batsmen started playing for time and light as the end of the day drew near.

After a flawless run at home, New Zealand have travelled to Melbourne for the World Cup final. This last challenge – against co-hosts Australia – will be their greatest

Andrew McGlashan26-Mar-20151:46

Crowe: NZ will need to adapt quickly to MCG

Home advantage has helped carry New Zealand through the World Cup, amid frenzied atmospheres that peaked during the astonishing semi-final against South Africa. Now, though, the players have left the feeling of familiarity behind to play the biggest match of their lives. And the contrast in venues does not come much greater than Eden Park to the MCG.Some of the shortest boundaries in the world will be replaced by some of the longest. Both grounds have hosted four matches in the World Cup: the Auckland sixes count is 56, Melbourne 19. However, to suggest that it is a game-changing difference is to do injustice to New Zealand’s batting. Martin Guptill’s 110-metre six that landed on the roof in Wellington would have comfortably made the MCG stands and Brendon McCullum will just see it as another challenge. Still, there will be a new test presented to the batsmen.New Zealand visited the MCG in October to get a feel for the venue, but walking round an empty ground cannot start to replicate what they will be greeted with on Sunday. The last time they played in Melbourne was 2009 and they were guided to victory by an unbeaten 61 from Grant Elliott, the one New Zealander not to make the planning trip last year.Six of the New Zealand side from that day will, barring injury, play the final. Alongside Elliott, there was McCullum, Guptill, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee. McCullum faced 75 balls for his 43; in his current mindset a 75-ball innings would leave him not far short of 150. Luke Ronchi, meanwhile, will bring his Australia and Western Australia memories with him, which amounts to 14 matches on the ground. For four of the likely starting XI – Kane Williamson, Corey Anderson, Trent Boult and Matt Henry – it will be their first appearances at the MCG.Vettori, in what is likely to be his final international appearance, will be a key player. Such is his longevity he has played eight times at the MCG from 1997 to 2009, and though he only has eight wickets his economy rate is 4.39 – albeit before the current fielding restrictions. In the 2009 match, he was part of a twin-spin attack alongside Jeetan Patel and bowled his allocation for 35 runs.Batsmen will need to adjust their sights and running between the wickets will become as important as clearing the rope. As a rudimentary example, there have been 26 threes run at the MCG in four matches compared to nine at Eden Park. That also impacts the fielding, the teamwork and aggression, which have been markers for New Zealand. Cutting off twos becomes a tough task for the deep fielders and you can expect plenty of use of the relay throw. And that’s before you factor in the ‘advice’ that will no doubt be offered from the other side of the fence.”We’ve played cricket around world so nothing really changes,” Henry insisted. “You just adapt to the conditions, we’ve done that throughout New Zealand. It doesn’t really matter with some of the guys in our team, boundaries aren’t big enough so we don’t need to worry about that. It’s just a beautiful ground, just enjoy it. Soak it up.”For the players, adjusting their own games is something they have control over. But one aspect of the final that is out of their hands will be the support-base. Whoever had won the second semi-final would have had the majority of the crowd behind them. Now that Australia have made it, New Zealand can expect a hostile welcome especially after the previous meeting at Eden Park.There will not be a full house roaring their support for New Zealand, as there was that day or in the semi-final, though significant Kiwi backing is expected. Air New Zealand have added an extra charter flight on Sunday morning to ferry fans across the Tasman – the return flight arriving in Auckland at 7.30 am on Monday, in time for work – while Jetstar have said “half their flights” from New Zealand to Melbourne are sold out. Still, a few planeloads of people do not make much of a dent in a 90,000-seater stadium.”The crowds have been amazing everywhere around the country,” Mike Hesson said. “We’ll miss them, no doubt, at the MCG but I know there’s a fair few going over … they’ll probably be drowned out but we’ll know they are there.”Henry, for whom this trip is only his second visit to Melbourne, was just waiting to savour the day. “For me personally it’s the first time to touch the turf,” he said. “There’s excitement, it’s not something to be daunted and scared of. It’s a time to embrace it.”Never mind that they are on Australia’s patch this time, New Zealand’s performances in this World Cup – and especially the semi-final – mean they will have no fear. The MCG provides a vast challenge, in every respect, but the ground alone will not decide the World Cup.