English
Photo Credit: Jyoti Desale
In the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final, there are players that will decide the nature of the contest single-handedly. Both Australia and New Zealand have a plethora of players in their ranks who can change the course of the tie in the matter of minutes or overs. As we found out in the group game against Auckland, Brendon McCullum turned the match on its head with his big hitting. Trent Boult ran through the opposition in a couple of overs and Mitchell Starc’s feats nearly helped Australia pull off an improbable win. The aforementioned players make the list here too and here is a look back at them:
1. Brendon McCullum: Irrespective of what happens in the final, The New Zealand captain’s slam-bam pyrotechnics in the tournament will go down in cricketing folklore. McCullum has decimated attacks like the bowlers had no business being on the pitch; be it Lasith Malinga, James Anderson, Mitchell Johnson or Dale Steyn . The world’s best but the deliveries were dispatched out of the park. Not that McCullum’s tattooed, beefy arms can’t, but at the colossal MCG, he will faced with a bigger challenge and needs to be calculative with his hitting. McCullum against Johnson and Mitchell Starc will be a mouth-watering clash. Also Read: Catch the Preview of the World Cup final here
2. Mitchell Starc: It is easy to forget the formidable Johnson, who was picked apart by McCullum for runs in the earlier encounter while Starc walked away with the limelight for all his stunning feats. The left-armer has been in such fine form after the game too and has been near-unplayable in certain matches. Starc’s in-swinging yorker and the ball that beats the outside edge of the bat has been a sheer delight to watch and has even earned comparisons to Wasim Akram. This will be Starc’s first big contest. Also Read: All the statistics and head-to-head battles between Australia and New Zealand in previous encounters
3. Daniel Vettori: Just three months after coming in the New Zealand camp after a long injury lay-off, the former skipper has worked his charm, both on and off the field. Vettori has seamlessly fit in into the setup and has taken wickets and tied the run rate down, whenever he has come on to bowl. It is his fielding that has seen accolades pouring in for the veteran. Vettori’s blinder of a one-handed catch, inches away from the boundary to send back Marlon Samuels is already amongst the tournaments highlights. His ground-fielding and commitment is again, nothing short of the geeky charm that Vettori brought into the game as a 18-year-old. Being the senior most player amongst both sides, the veteran will be a huge draw.
4. Ross Taylor: Before the abuses start flowing in, there is a pattern with the Kiwis that need to be seen. Each and every individual of the side has stepped up and had their moments with the side at different intervals. Taylor has been scratchy and out-of-sorts; a stark contrast from the batting mainstay in the middle-order he has been since the turn of 2014. Every member has had moments of brilliance. Taylor hasn’t had one so far. Could the final be the breakthrough match for the big-hitting batsman?
5. Glenn Maxwell: If bowlers have learnt one lesson from bowling to Glenn Maxwell, it is that there is no field that can be set for his hitting. The Australian batsman has been in fine form in this tournament and even 20-30 deliveries can change the complexion of the contest completely. The best of bowlers have been ripped to shreds by Maxwell and even a Trent Boult or a Tim Southee may struggle against the dexterity of the Australian all-rounder. Maxwell will be playing at home too.
6. Steve Smith: A confidence player, Steve Smith comes into the final on the back of a hundred against India in the semifinals. In Australia’s resurgence in the cricket world, Smith has been one of the vital cogs. The Australian No 3 missed out on scoring well in the previous contest between the two sides. Since then, he has been playing in same vein he has been doing over the last few months; moving across the stumps and finding gaps with ease. The future captain-elect will be relishing the big occasion.
For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on Latest ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 News on India.com.
