Australia vs New Zealand World Cup Final: It's Clarke vs McCullum, Warner vs Boult in Fight to Finish
Australia take on New Zealand in the World Cup 2015 final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. New Zealand will be eyeing their first World Cup victory.
The stage is set. Co-hosts and heavyweights of World Cup 2015 - Australia and New Zealand - will lock horns at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday for the prized trophy. After weeks of thrilling victories, heart-breaking losses, record-shattering knocks and game-changing spells, two of the best sides in the tournament will square off, after all. ('Ultimate game' Excites Brendon McCullum)
Can Australia add a fifth title to their rich trophy cabinet? Or will New Zealand take home their first-ever? Here are the top five battles to watch out:
Brendon McCullum vs Michael Clarke
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The biggest battle within the battle in the World Cup final will be that of the two captains - Brendon McCullum and Michael Clarke. (New Zealand, Debunking Myths En Route to World Cup 2015 Final)
For McCullum, this trophy will be the best testimonial to his team's fabulous performances over the last 18 months. McCullum's repeated early onslaught with the bat has been symbolic of his team's aggressive ways all through this period. A win will put McCullum at the very top on the list of successful Kiwi skippers and give the sport a new, exciting world champion.
Lifting the trophy and joining greats like Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting to bring World Cup glory to Australia will be the best possible way for Clarke to sign off from ODIs. He has struggled with form and a dodgy back, but the final will be more about his leadership skills than his prowess with the bat. (Australia Need the World Cup to Complete Their Renaissance)
David Warner vs Trent Boult
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When the two teams met last time, Trent Boult dismantled Australia's batting line-up with astonishing figures of 5/27 in 10 overs. With 21 wickets to his tally, Boult is already the best performer in World Cups for the Kiwis, beating the previous best of Geoff Allott (20 wickets in 1999 World Cup). The exciting left-armer will now be looking forward to producing another devastating spell of bowling to lay the platform for title victory.
In their previous fixture, David Warner was only one of the two batsmen who looked like putting up a fight. Warner has not been in good nick leading up to the final, but has displayed the potential to take matches away from the opposition very early. Clarke will hope his fiery left-handed opener will clip Kiwi wings early in the game. (Michael Clarke to Quit ODIs)
Martin Guptill vs Mitchell Starc
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Standing shoulder-to-shoulder against Trent Boult is Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc. The left-arm bowler has been a revelation for the co-hosts, picking 20 wickets in the tournament so far. It was his spectacular effort with the ball (6/28) that gave his side a chance to pull off a stunning victory against the Kiwis in the group game while defending a paltry total of 151. Once again, he will be the man to lead Australia's charge.
In McCullum's attacking company, Martin Guptill has emerged as one of the top batsmen for New Zealand. With 532 runs, Guptill is just nine short of becoming the leading run-scorer of the tournament - surpassing Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara. In a high-pressure final, Guptill's method to McCullum's madness will go a long way in enhancing New Zealand's chances of claiming their maiden title.
Daniel Vettori vs Steven Smith
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All through the Australian summer, the only constant with the bat was the young and talented Steven Smith. The baby-faced Aussie displayed his big-match potential with a sensational century to sink India in the semifinal. He has been the biggest thorn in India's flesh and would love to extend his dominance over bowlers in this Trans-Tasman clash.
In his fifth World Cup, Daniel Vettori remains the lynchpin of the Kiwi bowling attack. After the young, fast quicks finish their menacing spells, it is the experience and guile of
Vettori that takes over in the middle overs. McCullum would entrust Vettori with the most important job of the final -- sending Smith packing before he does damage. The 36-year-old spinner, who dismissed Smith when the two sides met last time in the World Cup, will be more than eager for the challenge.
Mitchell Johnson vs Corey Anderson
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That it takes just one solid performance to find rhythm and confidence back has been exceptionally demonstrated by Mitchell Johnson and Corey Anderson. Leading up to the semifinal versus India, Johnson was having a very ordinary World Cup by his standards but picking the wickets of Rohit Sharma and his nemesis Virat Kohli would've done a world of good for the aggressive pacer. Come Sunday, he will be ready to snare a few Kiwi top-order batsmen and give his team the edge.
Corey Anderson, the Kiwi middle-order dasher, put his pyrotechnic ways aside and joined hands with Grant Elliott in scripting New Zealand's memorable semifinal win over South Africa. His ability to play a matured knock (58 off 57) under immense pressure showed his much-needed versatility in the middle-order. The stocky Kiwi batsman will fancy another crack at a run-chase, this time to lead his side to World Cup glory.