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Photo Credit: Jyoti Desale
It is the ICC World Cup 2015 and from previous editions, we have learnt that it is the battles between two of the important players that decide the outcome of the contest. Wasim Akram running through the English middle order in the 1992 World Cup, Aravinda de Silva taming Glenn Mcgrath in 1996 or Adam Gilchrist’s assault on the Sri Lankan bowlers in 2007, it is the contest between bat and ball that alters the shape of the contest. In the 2011 edition, the battle between Sachin Tendulkar and Lasith Malinga went the Sri Lankan’s way but MS Dhoni picked apart Malinga and spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan. Here is an estimate of the battles in the final: Also Read:Catch the Preview of the World Cup final here
1. Brendon McCullum vs Mitchell Johnson: Even before the first encounter between the two teams — in Auckland where New Zealand shaded the contest — cMcCullum had one approach to the battle — step out and heave the ball over the boundary. There was a bouncer from Johnson that smacked the New Zealand captain on his arm, that nearly ended his tournament. McCullum came back and hammered Johnson for a rain of sixes. After a slow start, that saw Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood steal the show, Johnson roared back with a sturdy display against India in the semi-final. Also Read: Brendon McCullum, Steve Smith among 6 Key Players in the final
2. Daniel Vettori vs Steve Smith: The Australian No 3 is at ease with the pacers. Steve Smith shuffle across the off-stump and his inch-perfect flick has rattled many a pacer but spin may test the 25-year-old. The wily old Vettori outsmarted Smith in the earlier contest, getting bounce from the Auckland wicket. Being one of the vital cogs of the Australian batting order, a lot would hinge on how Smith would perform. This could well be Vettori’s last ODI contest and do not count out the veteran from pulling off something spectacular again.
3. Tim Southee vs Aaron Finch: The New Zealand pacer had a mixed bag against Aaron Finch, who initially smashed the ball to the ropes with ease but Tim Southee came back came back to castle the Aussies with a classic out-swinger. This battle may well alter the course of the battle, with Finch doing better than David Warner recently. There is also the possibility that the Aussies may drop anchor and play out the pacers and then go out guns blazing. Also Read: All the statistics and head-to-head battles between Australia and New Zealand in previous encounters
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