World Cup 2015 Final New Zealand vs Australia preview; co-hosts clash, its a fight to lift the coveted trophy

World Cup 2015 Final New Zealand vs Australia preview; co-hosts clash, its a fight to lift the coveted trophy:

Date: 29 March 2015       Time: 0900 IST
Venue: Melbourne

After 48 exciting matches in group stages and the knockout phase, we finally arrive at the moment of reckoning in the World Cup 2015 which will see 2 of the most deserving teams clash in the Grand Finale and fight it out for the coveted World Cup trophy.

The two teams who made it to the finals are also the hosts of the 2015 World Cup, Australia and New Zealand. It will be the second time in World Cup history that 2 co-hosts of the World Cup will face off against each other in the finals of the tournament.

Both the teams have played the best cricket in all the matches they have been a part of, with New Zealand coming into the finals undefeated and Australia has lost just one match, that to against the same opponent New Zealand on their way to the finals. Fans and supporters of both nations will turn out in huge numbers to support their respective teams and to cheer for them.

We surely have one cracker of a final on our hands and here is the preview of that match, so read on and find out which team has the potential to lift the World Cup.

New Zealand

New Zealand, co-hosts of the World Cup will meet the other hosts Australia in what can be only termed as a potential blockbuster of a final. Both teams met previously in a group match which went to the wire and may be termed as the best match of the group stages.

Australia made 151 batting first and made New Zealand almost eat dirt despite a McCullum like innings from McCullum. They still won the match thanks to Kane Williamson. They are now the only undefeated team in the tournament, with India’s loss in the semis.

Their success can be attributed to one man- Brendon McCullum. He has given them so much confidence as a captain by playing attacking cricket all the time and backing his players, encouraging them to do the same. No matter what the situation is, he goes by his instinct and has been successful so far. McCullum has also given Kiwis some of the most blazing starts as an opener and thanks to him, the rest of the batting gets a breather and confidence seeing him play the way he does. He has great support in Guptill, Taylor, Williamson, Anderson and Elliot.

Bowling wise they have the best bowler in the 2015 World Cup so far in Trent Boult who has troubled every batting lineup that he has bowled against. Tim Southee provides the support while Matt Henry will provide the ammunition and speed to the bowling line-up. Spin wise Daniel Vettori is determined to retire as a World Cup winner.

In all, New Zealand have the spirit and confidence to lift the trophy and become the World Champions to throw that tag of under-dogs for once and for all.

Road to the Grand Finale

New Zealand (Won 8, Lost 0, Tie 0)

1. Beat Sri Lanka by 98 runs

2. Beat Scotland by 3 wickets

3. Beat England by 8 wickets

4. Beat Australia by 1 wicket

5. Beat Afghanistan by 6 wickets

6. Beat Bangladesh by 3 wickets

7. QF- Beat West Indies by 143 runs.

8. SF – Beat South Africa by 4 wickets. (D/L method)

Australia

Australia beat India in the semi-finals in a convincing show that proved why they have won 4 World titles. They kept the pressure on the famed Indian batting line-up constantly until even the likes of Dhawan, Kohli and Raina broke and gave their wickets away. Even Dhoni had given hope when he got run out. That’s the kind of performance Aussies have been putting in the World Cup 2015.

Even when they were defeated by Kiwis in the group match, they brought the match down to the wire with some charged up and extremely great bowling. No situation fazes them and they have one of the 3 cleverest captains in Michael Clarke leading the team. His genius was visible in how he suffocated Virat Kohli when he came into bat, giving him just 1 run in 12 balls he faced, forcing the star Indian batsman to hit out and get caught out of frustration.

Australia was hampered by the form of Aaron Finch, who after making a century in against England has completely gone out of form, falling early even in matches against minnows; but his innings of solidity and the support he lend to Steve Smith against India in the semi’s must have got him the confidence back.

New Zealand defeated them in the group stages in a nail biter. The teams are so evenly matched that it is difficult to say who will win the final just on the basis of records and even on the form. Australia has Starc, Johnson, Warner, Smith, and Watson in form with both bat and ball. They have players from the class of 2007 champions and they know the exact way of playing and winning in big matches.

The Aussie bowlers will have to find out a way to stop Guptill and McCullum and stem the flow of runs from the outset. So that they can bring the so far least tested Taylor, Williamson and company in the middle early and subject them to the pressure of playing in the World Cup final.

Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazlewood and James Faulkner have bowled with speed, swing and intensity that is hard to match by any other teams and McCullum knows his batsmen have to be at their very best to face the trio of Johnson, Starc and Hazlewood. Australia have the experience of playing in the finals of World Cup, while Kiwis will do it for the first time and could be nervous.

Australia will give it their all to win the title for the 5th time at all costs. Also an additional motivation for the team will be to give their skipper Michael Clarke who just today announced intentions to retire from ODI cricket following the final a winning and fitting send off.

Road to the Grand Finale

Australia (Won 6, Lost 1, Tie 1)

1. Beat England by 111 runs

2. Match Abandoned

3. Lost to New Zealand by 1 wicket

4. Beat Afghanistan by 275 runs

5. Beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs

6. Beat Scotland by 7 wickets

7. QF – Beat Pakistan by 6 wickets

8. SF- Beat India by 95 runs

Possible Playing XI:

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (C), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Daniel Vettori, Matt Henry, Luke Ronchi (WK), Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson

Australia:  Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steven Smith, Michael Clarke(C), Shane Watson,Glen Maxwell, Brad Haddin (WK), Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, James Faulkner