So that’s that. A decent tournament comes to an end – it’s not been a classic but it’s not been too bad. We had one competitive match out of seven in the knockout stages, which has been a bit of a disappointment but the group stages provided some great moments and the South Africa/New Zealand semi was a game for the ages. And the best team won.
Thanks for your company and emails throughout the tournament. Stick around on site for all the reports and reaction. And we’ll see you in the West Indies in a couple of weeks!
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AUSTRALIA LIFT THE WORLD CUP! (A mere 45 minutes after hitting the winning runs).
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Here’s Michael Clarke: “We’ve played this World Cup with 16 players. This victory is dedicated to our little brother Phillip Hughes.
The player of the tournament award goes to Mitchell Starc. Fair call. He’s been phenomenal.
By the time this presentation business is over the next tournament will have started.
The man of the match award goes to James Faulkner: “It’s an amazing feeling,” he says.
Here’s Brendon McCullum: “It’s been one helluva ride. We ran into an outstanding Australia team tonight, who continue to set the standard. In the end we were the second best team on the day, all credit to Australia.”
New Zealand trudge up and receive their runners-up medallions.
Presentation time! This might take a while. ICC chairman Srinivasan gets booed by the crowd as he’s introduced.
Here’s our on-the-whistle report (to be updated shortly).
Commiserations to Black Caps, but they have been outstanding and a credit to their country and the game.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) March 29, 2015
Here’s Shane Watson: “It’s what I’ve always dreamed of. For us to play as well as we did was just incredible. We knew we had to be absolutely at our best and we were.”
Shane Warne’s line of questioning is very beer-focussed.
And here’s George Bailey: “Unreal. It was as special as it gets. Playing in front of a crowd like that must’ve been phenomenal.”
And Glenn Maxwell: “That was as good as it gets.”
I think everybody is pretty happy.
Here’s Steve Smith: “Unbelievable feeling. To win this three-down in the final, I think the boys were outstanding.”
And here’s Mitchell Starc: “There were plenty of nerves, it was an amazing feeling. [The McCullum wicket] was a plan me and Craig McDermott had been working on for a couple of days.”
Here’s Darren Lehmann: “They’ve been fantastic over the six weeks. The support we’ve had has been unbelievable.” And Lehmann gets a bucket of Gatorade tipped over his head. “That’s why I love ‘em.”
Here’s David Warner: “I’ve lost my voice. It’s a magical feeling.”
And Brad Haddin: “It was special. The staff have been challenging us to play the perfect game and we’ve produced it in the biggest game. We’re looking forward to sharing a beer with everyone in the building.”
Darren Lehmann goes along the line, hugging every player. Strikes me as a good hugger does Boof.
Steve Smith ends unbeaten on 56.
Fitting for Smith to hit the winning runs. The new era's man stands at the pinnacle; takes in the view. #CWC15
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) March 29, 2015
AUSTRALIA WIN THE WORLD CUP!
Smith pulls to leg for four and it’s all over. Australia win by seven wickets. The final was a bit of a letdown really, but there’s no question that the best team in the tournament have won it.
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33rd over: Australia 182-3 (Watson 2, Smith 52) Southee almost does for Smith from the penultimate ball of the over with a superb yorker. Smith shrugs with a half-smile that says “Well bowled”. A single from the last takes Australia to within two runs of victory as the team strain at the bit on the boundary.
32nd over: Australia 180-3 (Watson 1, Smith 51) McCullum was the first to rush over to Clarke to shake his hand after that wicket. Good to see. A shame he couldn’t finish it off, but at least he got his own send off. Smith goes to his 50, his fifth on the bounce. He has been incredible, and a little bit terrifying if you’re an England fan whose thoughts are beginning to stray to the Ashes.
WICKET! Clarke b Henry 74 (Australia 174-3)
Henry returns and wangs down a leg side wide. But he follows that up by wriggling one through Clarke’s defences. There’s clearly a lump in his throat as he walks off to another ovation.
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31st over: Australia 174-2 (Clarke 74, Smith 47) The attendance at the MCG is 93,013, which is a record for a cricket match at the ground. And it’s party time in the stands as Clarke clumps Southee down to cow corner for a one-bounce four then clatters a wide one outside off through extra cover for four more. The third of the over is thrashed through point for four more, and the fourth follows suit! Four on the bounce for Clarke, who is going out with a bang. Seventeen from the over. Ten more required.
30th over: Australia 157-2 (Clarke 57, Smith 47) Between overs we get a plinky piano music montage of Clarke’s innings – the kind of musical accompaniment you get in a Zac Efron film while he wistfully yet determinedly sands down the hull of his boat. The Australia captain adds another moment for the post-match montage with a classical drive as Boult overpitches in search of a yorker. And the bowler ends his tournament with a dot ball.
29th over: Australia 151-2 (Clarke 52, Smith 46) Smith cuts Southee for two then thick edges over and wide of the slips for four. From the next he looks to thrash the ball off towards Tasmania but inside edges back past his stumps for two more. New Zealand were always going to need a chunky slice of luck and they’ve got really had any. Clarke mis-hits a drive from a full toss but gets just enough on it to take it over the top of McCullum at mid off. He hares off after the ball, of course, but there’s something tragically futile about it now.
“New Zealanders are getting to experience what the rest of the world feels watching the All Blacks,” writes Sam Lobascher.
28th over: Australia 140-2 (Clarke 50, Smith 37) Boult continues to surge in and the batsmen are remaining circumspect and respectful despite the proximity of victory. There’s been nary a hint of a cross-batted slog, not that that shot is particularly part of either batsman’s game. Smith clips a single into the leg side and that’s the only run of the over.
27th over: Australia 139-2 (Clarke 50, Smith 36) Clarke tucks Vettori into the leg side for a single that takes him to a half century. The MCG stands as one to applaud. It’s been a cracking little knock, whatever your view of his retirement announcement yesterday.
26th over: Australia 134-2 (Clarke 47, Smith 34) Trent Boult, with three more overs in the bag, returns with Australia 54 runs from victory. Clarke keeps out the first three then sends a bump ball through to the keeper. And from the last he drives fluidly back past the bowler for four.
This game has reached the rarely-seen 'Kiwis solemnly hugging each other' stage. #CWC2015
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) March 29, 2015
25th over: Australia 130-2 (Clarke 43, Smith 34) Vettori can barely get through his bowling action but he’s still hopping in for his team. The batsmen make like angry dairy farmers and milk furiously. That is until the fifth delivery, from which Clarke skips down the track and lofts the ball casually into the stands at long off.
24th over: Australia 119-2 (Clarke 33, Smith 33) Corey Anderson, who Bowls A Heavy Ball, into the attack for the first time. People talk about him having a golden arm but New Zealand need something diamond encrusted at this point. Clarke drives just wide of the man at short cover and they jog through for three. Smith, playing with zen-like calm, clips one off his hip for two more.
23rd over: Australia 112-2 (Clarke 30, Smith 30) Henry offers Clarke too much width and Clarke punches through the covers. McCullum hares after it like a man possessed and makes a brilliant diving stop on the rope to save a solitary run. He clearly hasn’t given up the ghost yet. But then CLONK! Clarke biffs one down to long on for four.
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22nd over: Australia 103-2 (Clarke 23, Smith 28) Clarke calmly lofts Vettori back over his head for a single. A Mexican wave ripples around the ground.
Aua just ticking along now. in control.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) March 29, 2015
21st over: Australia 100-2 (Clarke 22, Smith 26) Henry charges in once more with the fields getting ever more attacking, for Clarke at least. Smith dinks away a single to leg that brings up the Australia 100.
And at the end of the over cue more banging beats over the Tannoy, a slightly incongruous musical blast given the pretty flat stuff out in the middle.
20th over: Australia 98-2 (Clarke 21, Smith 25) Daniel Vettori returns. Will he throw away the glasses and tear his shirt to reveal the Superman beneath? Clarke Kent has a limp, though, and the batsmen nudge three more onto the scoreboard.
19th over: Australia 95-2 (Clarke 19, Smith 24) Lovely stuff from Smith, who guides one of his trademark slippery-as-greased-silk drives through the covers for three runs that take Australia to within double figures of the target. Clarke adds another boundary by rocking back and flicking over the top of Luke Ronchi for four more. From the fifth ball, a slashing drive flies wide of Guptill at gully. Twelve from the over thanks in no small part to the attacking field New Zealand have to run with. Just 89 more required.
18th over: Australia 83-2 (Clarke 10, Smith 21) Clarke finally plays a shot in anger and skews a thick edge over the slips for four. Southee follows it up with a toe-crushing yorker that the Australia captain does well to dig out.
17th over: Australia 76-2 (Clarke 4, Smith 20) These two are happy just to grind this out in risk-free fashion. Clarke, in particular, looks like a man who wants to be there at the end.
16th over: Australia 74-2 (Clarke 4, Smith 19) Southee returns to the attack and sends down a couple of wides, which presumably don’t figure on even the most inventive of McCullum’s ploys. The batsmen milk a few singles in addition.
15th over: Australia 69-2 (Clarke 3, Smith 17) Despair for New Zealand! Smith blocks the ball into his pads and it trickles through before rolling into the stumps. The bails, made of osmium if you listen to the commentators, refuse to budge. In truth, even balsa-wood bails would probably have stayed in place. Smith gets down to the non-striker’s end with a single, so we get McCullum’s Test Match board game field for Clarke:
Block, block, goes Clarke.
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14th over: Australia 68-2 (Clarke 3, Smith 16) Boult continues into his seventh over. Clarke is faced by two slips, a gully, a short-ish point, a man at short-ish mid on and a short midwicket. An edge, though, zips between a gap between the point and the gully.
Big ovation for Michael Clarke. Good job announced his ODI retirement yesterday or this final would have just been about his terrific team.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) March 29, 2015
13th over: Australia 63-2 (Clarke 0, Smith 14) That was a bit of a trap that Warner fell into, but it’s a little like a bear falling into a trap after he’s already munched through all the villagers. So we get a standing ovation for Michael Clarke as he strides out for his final ODI innings. McCullum has a bevy of fielders in catching positions – seven by my quick count, with three slips and four in front of the batsman. It’s a bit of a double-bluff as Henry doesn’t test Clarke with any short stuff and the Australia captain survives with little fuss.
WICKET! Warner c Elliott b Henry 45 (Australia 63-2)
Warner pulls with the force of Thor’s hammer for another boundary but from the next he’s gone! This time he top-edges the pull and Elliott runs in from the boundary to take a decent low catch.
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12th over: Australia 59-1 (Warner 41, Smith 14) Warner looks to cut Boult away but a bottom edge thunks into the turf and clambers over the bails like Javier Sotomayor in his pomp. From the next there’s another escape for Warner as he’s struck on the back pad – Dharmasena shakes his head and New Zealand opt not to review, denying us the opportunity to hear Marais Erasmus say “Rock and roll that”. Has anyone looped Marais Erasmus saying “Rock and roll that” over a banging techno beat? And if not, why not?
It was clipping the top of leg, but would’ve been umpire’s call anyway.
11th over: Australia 58-1 (Warner 40, Smith 14) Henry looks to rev himself up by threatening to throw down the stumps as Warner blocks out but this is very easy for Australia at the moment. A pleasant evening stroll.
10th over: Australia 56-1 (Warner 39, Smith 13) Boult continues and this is just glorious from Warner. The third ball is too full and Warner wristily thunks through the covers for four more. He’s whacked on the pad from the next, but it’s always drifting down leg.
“Has any country ever been football champions of Asia and world cricket champions?” wonders Patrick O’Brien. Nope – neither India nor Pakistan have ever got close to the Asian Championship.
9th over: Australia 49-1 (Warner 33, Smith 12) Matt Henry into the attack. Warner on the attack. The first is a bumper that the batsman hooks uppishly towards square leg – out on the rope Anderson seems to misjudge the flight, running in rather than across, but I’m not sure he would’ve got there anyway. A one-bounce four to start the over then, but Warner then picks out fielders with the remainder.
8th over: Australia 45-1 (Warner 29, Smith 12) Boult continues. A touch of width allows Smith room to drive through the covers for two, and they scamper a single off the next.
Smith moving so easily into the ball.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) March 29, 2015
The febrile atmosphere of a couple of overs previous has dissipated somewhat. New Zealand are in desperate need of another lift.
7th over: Australia 41-1 (Warner 28, Smith 9) Daniel Vettori into the attack. “If you get the chance - maybe as he takes his fifth wicket in a famous Kiwi victory, or maybe not - please include this photo in your OBO,” writes Sean Boiling. “Daniel Vettori aged 18 after his call up to the NZ team. 295 ODI’s later here we are.”
He’s into his bowling action a bit gingerly, whatever the injury he’s carrying is it’s definitely hampering him. Runs off only one delivery though, Smith guiding him away for three.
6th over: Australia 38-1 (Warner 28, Smith 6) Boult keeps Smith honest with a barrage of full balls, but mixes it up with a short one from the fifth of the over and gets pulled away to square leg for four as a result. The Australia No3 looks utterly at ease out their.
5th over: Australia 33-1 (Warner 28, Smith 1) Just sumptuous from Warner. A little too short, a touch too wide from Southee and the batsman crashes a back-foot drive through the covers for four more, a blow so meaty it should come accompanied by fries and a choice of mustards. He follows that up by flat-batting over the top of mid on for a one-bounce four, and the third of the over flies just wide of the man at slip. That trickles away for another boundary – three from the first three balls of the over – but it would’ve been a fairly simple catch had McCullum had a man at second slip. [INSERT YOUR OWN ‘JOKE’ ABOUT MCCULLUM BEING A TERRIBLE DEFENSIVE CAPTAIN HERE]. Three slips are in for Smith but he dabs into the on side to get off the mark.
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4th over: Australia 18-1 (Warner 18, Smith 0) Boult offers up the first truly bad ball of the innings – a wide near-half-volley that Smith strokes through the covers for four. He’s looking busy and dangerous. Boult responds with a well-directed yorker but then sends one down the leg side and is flicked away for three more.
3rd over: Australia 9-1 (Warner 9, Smith 0) The atmosphere at the MCG has cranked up from Excited Buzz to Feverish Crackle. Warner chops Southee away for two into the off and then flicks off the pads for two more. From the second, Vettori on the square leg boundary hobbles sadly to gather the ball, like someone finally getting back to the car after a long and surprisingly arduous shopping trip. He looks in all manner of trouble sadly. Warner blocks down the ground for a third two of the over and then skitters a single from the last. Seven from the over.
2nd over: Australia 2-1 (Warner 2, Smith 0) Two balls for Smith to survive. Boult is finding some vicious swing – look at him, the terror:
"In Boult We Trust" pic.twitter.com/Z7Gd80svWE
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E) March 29, 2015
WICKET! Finch c & b Boult 0 (Australia 2-1)
Trent Boult, of course, from the Members End and Warner has a big flash at a wide loosening. He connects only with the early evening Melbourne air. Next up he’s at it again – another Jason Vorhees-esque slash at an even wider delivery but again a swing-and-a-miss. McCullum brings in a fourth slip and Boult tries the double-bluff with the next, looking for the yorker. Warner is alive to it and digs it out for a single. From the next HE’S GOT HIM! Finch’s edge loops up off the pad and time stands still as the bowler waits for the ball to arrive. Eventually it does and the Kiwis in the stands go off the charts. That’s the start they needed.
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1st over: Australia 1-0 (Warner 1, Finch 0) Tim Southee surges in from the Great Southern Stand End. He strays onto Warner’s pads and the opener gets his team off the mark with a flick down to backward square leg for a single. Aaron Finch blows a risky bubble with his gum – how awkward would it be if it popped all over his grille? – then plays and misses outside off at one that seams away deliciously. And he repeats the trick with the last. A good start for New Zealand, though ‘good’ isn’t going to be enough for them in the circumstances. They need ‘extraordinary’.
Out come the players. 184 runs stand between Australia and a fifth World Cup triumph.
Cheers Russ and hello everybody. From the MCG – where, from the sounds of it, greats of the game are popping peeled grapes into the mouths of Russ and Geoff while sweet, sweet fizzy pop gushes from every faucet and the scent of grilled meat wafts tantalisingly on the breeze – to north London, where we’re fuelled by RoboTea, all surfaces are slightly clammy and the air smells of mild disappointment.
And talking of mild disappointment if you’ve tuned in hoping to see the Karate Kid beat Cobra Kai, I can tell you that poor old Ralph Macchio has taken a beating and Mr Miyagi has been left in a pile of his own teeth, his bonsai garden turned into ornate kindling. Elisabeth Shue has gone off with the bad guy. And that subplot with the lost kittens? Yeah, that didn’t end well either …
Still, truth be told, in any great underdog story there has to be a point where victory seems impossible, where all hope has been lost. McCullum will attack furiously; a few early wickets might get a few nerves twitching. And a team has defended 183 before in a World Cup final …
New Zealand all out for 183
What a performance from the Aussies. Bar Grant Elliott’s magnificent counter-punching 83 and the calming 111-run partnership he shared with Ross Taylor (40), the Kiwis were a bit of a rabble.
Often their inspiration, New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum departed for a manic duck and it went downhill from there. 39-3 was the score when Taylor and Elliott came together and after Taylor departed it fell away very quickly. Four Kiwis departed with ducks as Johnson (3-30 off 9), Starc (2-20 off 8) and Faulkner (3-36 off 9) ran rampant.
Glenn Maxwell was handy too; he nipped out Martin Guptill in circumstances approaching farce and also finished it off with that run-out. You get the feeling that the Kiwis will really rue that batting performance. It’s all up to Boult, Southee, Henry and Vettori now. Can Boult catch fire again and run through the home side? I find it hard to believe that the Aussies will be allowed to cruise in this run chase.
You know who I envy? John Ashdown. He’ll soon take you through the thrilling final half of this game in which the World Champion will be crowned. Thank you for your company and all those Patrick Swayze-referencing emails.
WICKET! Southee run out (Maxwell) 11 - New Zealand all out for 183
Has Maxwell run out Southee? Yes he has! Johnson makes Boult uncomfortable, forcing him to fend to Maxwell at short mid-wicket and with Southee backing up too far at the other end the Aussie throws down the stumps in fine style and claims the final wicket. New Zealand are all out for 183. Is that anything close to enough? We’ll soon see.
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WICKET! Henry c Starc b Johnson 0 (New Zealand 182-9)
Economical to a degree rarely seen against the top sides at this World Cup, Johnson continues in search of a third wicket and gets it when he pitches up to Henry and watches him guilelessly scoop a full toss straight into the hands of Starc at point. Another Kiwi duck.
Reader Giles Brooke is getting desperate. “As Australia only scored 151 at Eden Park, do we (NZ) win on the away goals rule?”
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44th over - New Zealand 181-8 (Southee 10, Henry 0)
Southee bides his time until Faulkner gives him something to hit and the fifth delivery of the over is duly dispatched out to the cover boundary for three. That’s the only score of another miserly over. The Kiwis still have hope in this game but 30-40 from this pair would help even more.
Mythical legend and poet lureate of the OBO, reader RObert Wilson arrives with a typically outlandish request. “I’m at this drunken, rambunctious Cultural Fesitival in Grenoble. Shortly, I’m gonna have to go out and waffle about things I know nothing of in a number of languages I don’t speak. At this rate, I’m going to miss the whole game. If I give you a series of numbers, you wouldn’t mind calling me every five minutes for personalised updates, would you? Facts, figures and quips please. And I have the teeniest little headache so it would be quite nice if you sang them in a low, lullaby voice.”
More of a nasally baritone sorry Robert. Not pleasant in any way.
43rd over - New Zealand 178-8 (Southee 7, Henry 0))
Boof! Southee is on a seek and destroy mission here, thumping Johnson’s first ball over long-on for a towering six. As far as slower-balls go, that was a backfire for the left-arm quick. Matt Henry makes his intentions just as clear but can’t get it off the square.
Reader Brendan Brown came back with a terrific Swayze-Ghost joke as all that action was unfolding but criminally, it’s now out of date. Sorry Brendan, it deserved better.
no team except Pakistan has defended a sub 265 target in this World Cup... so there's that. Already too far?
— Hassan Cheema (@mediagag) March 29, 2015
WICKET! Eliott c Haddin b Faulkner 83 (New Zealand 171-8)
42nd over - New Zealand 171-8
Bless you Grant Elliott, bless you. Not perturbed by the chaos occuring around him, New Zealand’s star of the finals rocks back and deposits Faulker through cow for another boundary, raising hope that he could yet reach triple figures and also drag the Kiwi score over 220.
Alas, he departs as he’s attacking when when he edges through to Haddin. It looked a lot like Faulkner overstepped the mark and that’s reviewed, but Elliott has left the arena and doesn’t intend on coming back. What is that all about?
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WICKET! Vettori b Johnson 9 (New Zealand 167-7)
Fresh from a disastrous New Zealand PowerPlay period (15 for 3 was the result of that) Vettori departs thanks to a Mitchell Johnson yorker to the stump. Wrong timber, Dan. That came a ball after Elliott had been put down by Smith at gully. It’s all happening as Bill Lawry would say. The Aussies are in pole position.
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40th over - New Zealand 165-6 (Elliott 78, Vettori 8)
With the cricket gods smiling on him for now, Elliott picks up four by cleverly gliding one through the short third man to the boundary. Faulkner has been a gem today and six from the over is no great disaster. He’s got 2-29 from 7 overs now - excellent work.
NOT OUT! Too high
I know nothing. Hawk-Eye says it was clipping middle at the very top but it’s thrown back to Dharmasena, whose original ‘not out’ verdict stands.
REVIEW!
Faulkner thinks that he’s trapped Elliott in front and it looks very close indeed.
We have n Australian Record Crowd! (no specific details yet but north of 91k)
39th over - New Zealand 159-6 (Elliott 73, Vettori 7)
Mitchell Starc is not impressed with the temerity of Daniel Vettori clipping him to leg for two so he sends down a steepling bouncer to give him something else to think about. That’s the only action in the over.
Reader Phil Withall is a hopeless romantic. “I have learnt an important lesson. No matter how much one needs the matrimonial brownie points, do not take a break from watching the cricket to go and mow the back lawn. If you do wickets vanish. I have now decided that I will not be cooking dinner for when my wife gets home from work and we’ll all be settling down to a meal of toast and whatever biscuits are in the cupboard.”
38th over - New Zealand 157-6 (Elliott 73, Vettori 5)
Though his instincts might be pushing him in different directions, Elliott elects to take a single on offer from the first ball of Faulkner’s over. There follows a delay as Vettori becomes distracted by the sight of a yellow balloon in the area blacked for the sight-screen. Vettori scratches around and then produces a moment of class, showing Faulkner the full face of the bat to drive him for a straight four.
In other news, Sean Boiling has a great Swayze reference. “The best Patrick Swayze reference is to be found in some Steve Coogan live stuff from 10 or more years ago... Pauline Calf has written a novel with the main character being one ‘Lord Patrick of Swayze’. He’s been known as that in our house ever since. Nobody puts Mitchell in the corner?” Nor Watto.
Favourite Shanes? Mark Burgess plumps for Alan Ladd.
37th over - New Zealand 151-6 (Elliott 73, Vettori 0)
We all know that Daniel Vettori is perfectly capable with the bat but facing his first ball here form Starc he almost gives Brad Haddin some more catching practice, fencing at it in heart-stopping fashion. Can he hang around while Elliott lifts this score towards respectability?
WICKET! Ronchi c Clarke b Starc 0 (New Zealand 151-6)
Calamity! After all but running out Elliott, Ronchi swipes artlessly at his first ball from Starc and sends an edge through to Michael Clarke at first slip, meaning he too departs for a duck and the Kiwis are right back in strife with the fall of three quick wickets. He’s escorted off the ground - on the MCG screen at least - by the ‘Castrol Duck’, a truly tragic cartoon figure. Not the kind of experience you dream about as a young lad.
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36th over - New Zealand 150-5 (Elliott 72, Ronchi 0)
Are the Aussies sledging Luke Ronchi at the moment? You’d think so becaus he used to walk among them in a brief ODI career for Australia. Now he’s out in the middle of the MCG in a World Cup final representing the country of his birth. Faulkner is breathing fire at the moment but the Kiwi keeper safely negotations his first three balls.
WICKET! Anderson b Faulkner 0 (New Zealand 150-5)
Now Corey Anderson goes! It’s Faulkner again, wiggling one through the new batsman’s defences and skittling him. Anderson had one sighter before the wicket ball but it wasn’t enough to prevent his demise for a duck. Faulkner is ecstatic and well he might be because the man he’s removed can be a destructive batsman at the death.
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WICKET! Taylor c Haddin b Faulkner 40 (New Zealand 150-4)
He’s gone! Perhaps the query was whether it was a bump ball - Faulkner’s delivery was pitched up outside off stump and Taylor played a slashing drive - but either way he’s out. He nicked it through and it carried into the outstretched right hand of a diving Brad Haddin. What a catch! Finally the Aussies get their breakthrough.
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Catch review?
Faulkner thinks he has Taylor caught behind. Taylor doesn’t agree and neither do the umpires in the strictest sense because they’ve thrown it upstairs.
35th over - New Zealand 150-3 (Taylor 40, Elliott 72)
Who is your favourite Shane? Is it Shane Warne, Shane Richie, Shane from The Shield? Maybe it’s Shane Watson. If so you’re in for a treat because he’s bowling another over here. He starts with a wide, so as to delay and extend our gratification, which soon comes when Elliott flicks him past the outstretched hands of Haddin for four. Watson looks like he’s been shot. I can’t see a lone sniper on the roof so we’ll have to concede it’s just disappointment.
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34th over - New Zealand 142-3 (Taylor 37, Elliott 68)
Hazlewood is into the attack after drinks and Elliott tucks into a little more sustenance when he leans back and quite deliberately glides him over the cordon for four. With a single that follows, he also brings up the 100-run partnership between he and Taylor, which came off 126 deliveries. A repeat of the boundary strike is less effective when a man is dropped back to protect the third man boundary.
Hazlewood is left somewhat chagrined as the batsmen scramble through for one final single to finish the over.
Elliott playing another kebab stick in the eye of an innings. An absolute blinder. 139-3, 100 stand with Taylor. Key phase imminent.
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) March 29, 2015
33rd over - New Zealand 134-3 (Taylor 35, Elliott 62)
Speaking of leading men, Patrick Swayze Shane Watson is back into the attack for another bowl. His body language seems almost recalcitrant each time he returns to his mark but as long as he’s only conceding a couple of singles as in this over, he’s an asset to his side. Speaking of assets, there’s a giant Gatorade bottle on the field so like Pavlov’s dog I will join the players and stop for a moment’s hydration.
32nd over - New Zealand 132-3 (Taylor 34, Elliott 61)
Maxwell toils on, all loping strides and rubbery arms. He’s milked for six runs - four singles and a two to Elliott - but he’s performing his job with as frugal an outcome as could be hoped. If the middle overs of an ODI were a movie he’d be Steve Buscemi; no-one’s idea of a leading man but providing enough kooky moments to keep you interested.
31st over - New Zealand 126-3 (Taylor 32, Elliott 57)
I’m sure it’s not just me thinking that itchell Johnson has lost something of his earlier spark at the Members end. Elliott and Taylor trade in singles this over, content to wait for a really loose one.
In crowd watch news, it looks like a full house to me; barely a spare seat in the house. There’s a huge cheer from them when Sanjay Manjrekar and Anil Kumble’s faces are flashed up on the screen. Naturally.
30th over - New Zealand 121-3 (Taylor 30, Elliott 54)
Glenn Maxwell continues with mixed bag of off-spinners and keeps things a little tidier this time, so an Elliott flick to leg for two and Taylor’s driven single are the only damage.
Is it time to give Hazlewood another run?
One more imp knock by Elliot under pressure. Need to continue if NZ has to post a fighting total. #CWC15
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 29, 2015
29th over - New Zealand 118-3 (Taylor 30, Elliott 51)
It seems as though Clarke was about as impressed with Watson’s over as Roger Ebert was with Patrick Swayze’s turn* in Road House, because he’s been banished to mid-on in favour of Mitch Johnson. The latter does a better job of containment, conceding a leg bye and a few singles in a far tighter over.
For the eagle-eyed reader, no, Grant Elliott isn’t on 450 as my previous post suggested. I was just keeping you on your toes.
*10 Swayze references and counting.
Elliott brings up 50
28th over - New Zealand 115-3 (Taylor 29, Elliott 50)
Maxwell returns again though with no great impact, milked for five singles either side of a leg-side wide before Elliott lofts him over mid-off for the run that brings up a well-compiled 50 from 51 deliveries. “If there’s any time for a flame-thrower celebration it’s a Grant Elliott half-century,” notes my colleague Geoff Lemon. He’s right too.
Updated
27th over - New Zealand 108-3 (Taylor 26, Elliott 47)
Watson has an opportunity to extend his repertoire of disappointed looks after he entices Taylor forward but then watches the outside edge fly through a vacant slip cordon for four. Nine come from the Watson over, which is the precise amount of times I’ve dropped a Patrick Swayze reference into a live blog.
The reversal of the Elliott LBW verdict is causing much tut-tutting, by the way. I wrote a cynical little thing about Hawk-Eye this week, for which I mostly seemed to cop abuse. Now everyone’s telling me I was right after all. People are the best. They’re doubting it went down leg. I’m not totally sure about that, though maybe it didn’t deviate quite as far as the reading suggested.
26th over - New Zealand 99-3 (Taylor 21, Elliott 44)
Grant Elliott is batting in a dream now. He plasters Faulkner through cover for another boundary and then nonchalantly flicks him down to third man for a single. Off strike is where the Aussies want him right now. He’s also the key wicket for them to claim; if he bats another 15 overs his side will be flying.
25th over - New Zealand 93-3 (Taylor 20, Elliott 39)
A lumbering all-rounder nods at his captain, removes his cap and slowly trots across to the umpire, which can only mean one thing: It’s Watto time! He nearly produces a wicket too when Elliott lives on the edge by cutting over Smith’s head at gully to pick up too. Watson does his best Patrick Swayze, throwing his head back like in the beach football scene in Point Break, right when he realises the identity of Johnny Utah.
24th over - New Zealand 89-3 (Taylor 20, Elliott 35)
Faulkner switches to the southern end of the ground but a few balls later he probably wishes he hadn’t; he’s clattered over the top of cover for another Elliott boundary to bring up the 50 partnership from 69 deliveries. This is great counter-attacking batting from the New Zealanders. They consolidated and now they’re starting to launch.
23rd over - New Zealand 83-3 (Taylor 19, Elliott 30)
MCG so small! Now Starc is getting the treatment, hooked for a slightly streaky but nevertheless spirit-lifting six by Elliott. It was a little straight but he rocked back and threw the kitchen sink at it.
Chris Purcell is back. “Whenever I read this in Raymond Chandler’s Lady in the Lake “I smelled of gin. Not just casually, as if I had taken four or five drinks of a winter morning to get out of bed on, but as if the Pacific Ocean was pure gin and I had nosedived off the boat deck...” I think of of the OBO Hacks, for some reason I associate the OBO with gin.”
Bloggers ruin?
22nd over - New Zealand 77-3 (Taylor 19, Elliott 24)
Bang! Now Elliott hammers Maxwell as well, latching onto a short on and cutting for four. He’s looking very comfortable indeed now.
Brendan Brown has gone for a very unusual World Cup experience. “I’m not watching the game, instead viewing ‘Banged up Abroad’ reading your live blog during the ads. It seems as though the Kiwi team is in a worse place than the British drug mule locked in Ecuador at the moment.”
Brendan, the Kiwis are recovering well from their own full body cavity search at the start of the game. Elliott in particular is running straight as a dye.
Updated
21st over - New Zealand 70-3 (Taylor 18, Elliott 18)
Shot! Elliott gets on the front foot to the returning Starc and cracks a splendid cover drive out to the boundary for three as he continues to feel his way into the match. He and Taylor are steadying the ship.
NOT OUT! Successful review from Elliott. #NZ 3-66 (20). LIVE: http://t.co/AnGAEEqFQ3 #cwc15 #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/LKOdkTJ63l
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 29, 2015
20th over - New Zealand 66-3 (Taylor 18, Elliott 15)
The thing I really love about Glenn Maxwell - and let’s be honest, there’s so many to choose from - is the way he reacts as though he’s fractionally missed out on a wicket at least four times an over. He genuinely did nearly snuff out Elliott there, I suppose. He turned it too much on that occasion.
Updated
NOT OUT!
Going down leg by a mile in fact. I could almost see that from side-on.
REVIEW! Maxwell has claimed Elliott LBW
...and the batsman sends it upstairs. Was it going down leg?
19th over - New Zealand 62-3 (Taylor 17, Elliott 12)
Like Johnson, Faulkner seems to stoop ever lower as he bounds towards the batsman before rising into an athletic delivery stride. Again his over costs only three runs, which is precisely the kind of middle-over economy that’s his bread and butter. It’s the task of Elliott and Taylor to pull NZ out of their rut but for now that will be an arm-wrestle.
18th over - New Zealand 59-3 (Taylor 17, Elliott 9)
Glenn Maxwell has been the man with the golden arm at times and now he’s back in search of another - let’s be totally honest - arsey wicket. He almost gets one too when Elliott shuffles forward and almost edges to Haddin. Never one to miss an opportunity for a stumping, the Aussie keeper also makes a mess of the stumps but to no avail.
James Lane loves him some Mitch. “Amazing how Johnson - Johnson! - has been quite overlooked in the blaze of Starc-mania,” he says. “He’s bowled beautifully today, and against India. Peaking when it counts.”
17th over - New Zealand 54-3 (Taylor 14, Elliott 7)
If looks are anything to go by, Grant Elliott at least wears the kind of steely glare that makes you believe he’s in for another big one today. Perhaps the confidence bred by his innings on Tuesday will course through his veins now. Either way, he’s got a new bowler to contend with now in James Faulkner. His over costs just three singles and by the end of it he’d scrambling across the pitch to save one.
16th over - New Zealand 51-3 (Taylor 13, Elliott 5)
Is it time to give Josh Hazlewood a rest now? Into his seventh over now he offers up a juicy half-volley that Taylor cracks wide of mid-wicket for three and otherwise looks a little down on penetration as drinks approaches. The drinks come out in fact, as good a chance as the Kiwi pair will get to regroup and talk through this difficult start. For now the Aussies are well on top.
Just did my first aimless, nervous lap of the living room. First of many I think.
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) March 29, 2015
Updated
15th over - New Zealand 47-3 (Taylor 10, Elliott 4)
The MCG really is too big for Ross Taylor. He drives Johnson beautifully through cover but only picks up three as Starc hauls the ball in at the boundary. It was a lovely stroke to be fair and his partner tucks in for a double dose, collecting two through the same region to get himself moving.
Dieago del Mercato is having a grand time. “My better half just wandered in with a couple of kids (I’m assuming they were ours), and when told what I was watching on TV inside on this glorious day wondered “Which World Cup?”.In her defence, she is English.”
Jimmy Neesham already bringing the goods. You've got company in the OBO stakes, @rustyjacko.
— Glenn Valencich (@glennvalencich) March 29, 2015
How is he not offering up paid punditry for this game?
14th over - New Zealand 41-3 (Taylor 7, Elliott 1)
With the dangerous Guptill removed, Clarke decides that Maxwell has done his job and benches him again in favour of Hazlewood and all-out attack. Not a bad idea to try and press home the early advantage. His over is a maiden and by the end of it Taylor - perhaps a little too lavishly given the state of the game - drives and almost edges behind to Haddin.
Press box discretion has stopped me from having a listen but reader Dean Laffan assures me that the new cricket-themed episode of ‘Beached Az’ is quality.
Updated
13th over - New Zealand 41-3 (Taylor 7, Elliott 1)
Cometh the hour, cometh...Grant Elliott? He was the hero of the Black Caps’ semi-final win and he’s going to have to pull it out of the bag again here because his side is reeling. He gets off the mark with one to a fumbling Warner at gully.
“I’ve been able to send a small child off to play and so I’ve been watching instead of the OBO, (sorry),” says Penny Sheehan. “The channel 9 commentary team have been bitching about how cramped they are. “The world’s largest ground with the world’s smallest commentary box” they said. You sound a bit more comfortable!”
I’m in a hammock, Penny.
WICKET! Williamson caught and bowled Johnson 12 (New Zealand 39-3)
Calamity strikes again! This time it’s Williamson. Johnson squares him slightly and there’s something almost surreal about the shot - proppy and startled - sending the ball straight back into the eager hands of Johnson. He can’t believe his luck. Australia can’t believe it’s luck. The Kiwis are 39-3 and sinking into a very unfortunate hole. Johnson’s aggression and accuracy really won out there.
Updated
12th over - New Zealand 38-2 (Taylor 5, Williamson 12)
Ross Taylor is the new man at the crease and he restores a little bit of sanity by clattering Maxwell to the boundary through cover. It was a full toss, so he really needed to.
WICKET! Guptill b Maxwell 15 (New Zealand 33-2)
Oh dear. Maxwell has come into the attack and immediately struck in customary style: with some absolute filth. Guptill should have pummeled a half-tracker to the boundary to start the over but cracked it to cover instead and the next ball, innocuously thrown up on an off-stump line, is missed entirely. Guptill is bowled. A disaster. The Kiwi - a flightless bird - is a rather apt metaphor for New Zealand’s failure to launch so far.
“Not even I’d play a shot that bad” says Geoff Lemon. He’s getting a big head now that he’s hanging out by the bain marie with Lara.
Updated
11th over - New Zealand 33-1 (Guptill 15, Williamson 12)
Now Johnson produces a gem to Williamson, pitching it on middle stump and cutting it away from the outside edge. From my side-on perspective he cuts a menacing figure as he crouches low into the delivery stride, like a very athletic version of Bangers (of Mash?) about to hurl a projectile. A pair of singles is the only damage in this over. Johnson is mostly nailing his line and length.
Remarkably given the level of self-indulgence on display so far, people are actually asking me for more details of what it’s like to be at the ground. It’s hard to say with industrial grade glass separating us from the crowd, but noise is a little down on the Indian games here. There’s a macaroon tree through, so there’s that.
10th over - New Zealand 31-1 (Guptill 14, Williamson 11)
Finally Williamson gets moving and he does it in style, stroking Hazlewood for a wonderful straight drive down to the boundary on the southern side of the ground before handsomely pulling him wide of fine leg for two. Guptill has a bash at a straight drive himself and after one bounce it almost decapitates Hazlewood on his follow-through.
Speaking of decapitations, I think I might knock the top off another Pepsi Max. This live blog, as Buster Bluth would say, is OFF. THE. HOOK.
9th over - New Zealand 24-1 (Guptill 14, Williamson 4)
Clarke elects to conserve some of Starc’s energy and overs, bringing Johnson on from the Members end to fling it down for the first time today. He’s right on the money too, forcing Guptill back and across to defend towards gully. On an excellent pitch the early loss of McCullum has New Zealand back in its shell a little. Will the shackles be removed soon? A leg-side wide is the only run of the Johnson over.
Chris Purcell is on the front foot. “I only used to send in quips, droll observations and and the occasional drawing because I felt sorry for the poor hackschained to a keyboard in the depths of Guardian Towers but I won’t if you’re sitting there with an amber nectar, a barbie on the go and surrounded by a cheery Australian crowd; hang on, about that last point, doesn’t that make the broom cupboard at Guardian Towers seem alluring, cheering, even comforting?”
I’m actually surrounded by Kiwi accents, to be honest. I’m not complaining through; bit more exciting than the sofa at home. And there’s unlimited Pespsi Max. I imagine this is what it was like to tour with Led Zeppelin in 1972.
8th over - New Zealand 23-1 (Guptill 14, Williamson 4)
Hazlewood’s bowling with a lot more heat now and his fourth ball of this over is a belter, fast and always rising towards Williamson’s chest, putting him in two minds whether to take evasive or attacking action. He sort of does neither, swaying at like a drunk might a suddenly-appearing street sign. Hazlewood’s over is a very productive maiden.
Meanwhile, I’m getting my umpires mixed up and Jon Salisbury is all over it. “Great stuff Russell but you’ve got the umpires at the wrong end- i.e. Kettleborough turned down Starc’s LBW shout. Does give the chance to moan again that a bloke who doesn’t know the dead ball rule is umpiring the Final....” They’re hard to tell apart Jon, I’m sure you’ll agree.
7th over - New Zealand 23-1 (Guptill 14, Williamson 4)
Mitchell Starc knows that he’s one of the main attractions of this match so he’s decided to give the crowd better value for their money by bowling at least an extra ball per over. First up here he sends another fast bouncer trampolining over Guptill’s head, too high to count as intimidation you’d think. It’s the only score of the over though.
Phil Withall is fretting. “Sam Fiddian raises an interesting point. Now that OBO are coming from venues can we expect further developments? Twenty minute commentary stints, ex-players having a go, the plugging OBO memorabilia, Shane Warne typing slowly and getting mixed up with which account he’s using. I admit to being slightly worried.”
With that, I’d like to introduce our first collectable item of the day, available for $599.95 plus postage and handling. “When life gives you Lemon” is a limited edition (number determined by how many we can sell) photograph of Geoff Lemon - shirt stained with curry - talking with his mouth full to disinterested legends of the game.
6th over - New Zealand 22-1 (Guptill 14, Williamson 4)
Is Josh Hazlewood bowling a tad straight for a man with only a fine leg and short mid-wicket in place? Perhaps Michael Clarke thinks so becayse now he shifts James Faulkner across to mid-on as Williamson scratches around.
For those inquiring about ‘My Dinner with Lemon’, those cricketers who had the pleasure of our scribe’s company feasted on butter chicken, lamb cutlets and not one, but two types of rice. Never let anyone tell you that cricket media isn’t a world of decadent excess.
5th over - New Zealand 18-1 (Guptill 13, Williamson 1)
On reflection, you’d have to say that Brendon McCullum’s dismissal earlier was reflective of the way he plays the game (all out attack) but it really was a mad couple of minutes. Williamson, who has replaced him, is far more circumspect here against Starc but twice almost perishes hanging his bat out at short ones.
Pressing home the advantage, Starc has Williamson weaving out of the way to a well-directed bouncer that flies through at 147 clicks. The over finishes with Williamson getting off a duck with the streakiest of edges over the gully region. Starc is smiling broadly but it’s his “I’m gonna have you” smile. I wonder where that one rates on the Shane Warne body language index.
4th over - New Zealand 17-1 (Guptill 13, Williamson 0)
Hazlewood starts his second over with a little more accuracy than his last but the penetration isn’t quite what he’d like against Guptill. The latter tries to slap him to point but it’s cut off by two converging Australians but he goes even better two balls later, hooking a wild and hairy six over the top of the keepers’ head. Did he have much control? No, but it was still brilliant. I think it’s also fired up Hazlewood because by overs’ end he’s adopting the tea pot pose.
Hate how top edges can go for 6 on these small boundaries.
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) March 29, 2015
3rd over - New Zealand 11-1 (Guptill 7, Williamson 0)
Starc starts his second over with a fearsome LBW shout against Guptill but the batsman lives to fight another day when Kumar Dharmasena - the first man to both play in and umpire a World Cup final - turns him down. The Australians pass up the chance of a review.
From Starc’s fourth ball, Guptill is all class, leaning into a classical cover drive that spears through the gap in that region and speeds away to the boundary. Starc’s response? A massive 149.4kmph effort ball that flies over the batsman’s head and has Dharma calling a wide. Guptill glances to fine leg for a single to retain the strike.
“Isn’t doing the OBO from the venue against the spirit of the game?” asks Sam Fiddian. “It’s been couches and grubby offices for years until today. John Ashdown seemed to be locked in the Guardian Tower the other night, with only an old seafood pizza for company. Are you trying to make the english feel inadequate? Oh…”
No comment.
2nd over - New Zealand 6-1 (Guptill 2, Williamson 0)
It’s Josh Hazlewood who pairs with Starc and after conceding a single down leg side to Guptill, he also gets a crack at the new man Kane Williamson. Williamson gets a gift from the burly New South Welshman, but his boundary to fine leg comes off the thigh pad rather than bat.
Hazlewood’s over is the opposite of Starc’s, which I mightn’t have quite done justice. He’s really hooping it in to the right-handers. The ball to dismiss McCullum was exquisite.
WICKET! McCullum b Starc 0 (New Zealand 1-1
1st over - New Zealand 1-1
McCullum is bowled! And it’s an absolute jaffa from Starc, who’d had him in trouble in the two balls prior too. What a start for the young Aussie bowler, his celebration is a near lap of the ground, arms flailing as he’s swamped by teammates.Two balls later he’d gone right through the gate as McCullum drove loosely and now the Kiwi skipper is gone in a huge blow to their chances. Starc’s in-swinging yorker to castle him was just a delight.
Meanwhile, as I’m bringing you this early action, the OBOs own Geoff Lemon has just returned from lunch with Brian Lara, Mark Waugh and Graeme Smith. Some people have all the luck.
Updated
We’re moments from Mitchell Starc’s opening delivery
But just a couple of last-minute observations: that anthem seemed a very emotional experience for Michael Clarke. Did I spot tears? On a happier note, a gentleman just in front of me is dressed as Lance Cairns - beige from head to toe - including (and I had no idea such things existed) a beige terry toweling hat.
What a start.
As the anthems begin, our first ground-invader!
He’s a slip of a thing and the security guards make minced meat of him. For first-time visitors to the MCG that’s at least given an insight into the type of action you can expect at an AFL game at the ground.
Updated
Doing it for Martin Crowe
Michael Hall emails in with one slightly sombre thought on this joyous day. “I would draw fellow OBOers attention to yesterday’s excellent piece on today’s game potentially being the last game that Martin Crowe may ever see. A beautiful batsman to watch and a man unfairly maligned by some in this country not least because of his hair restoration ads. Whatever happens I hope he goes out on top.” Hear hear, Michael.
The great man was out on the ground earlier.
"Batting first in this World Cup has been very important." - Martin Crowe on the @BLACKCAPS batting first. #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/m9G0LS5Ywp
— Wide World of Sports (@WWOS9) March 29, 2015
The atmosphere at the ground
...is not like any other event I’ve been to at the MCG. Right now the fielding circle is ringed with giant flags for each of the competing nations. The surface looks an absolute picture and in a few moments, the teams will assemble for the national anthems. It’s as tense as a venue can feel while giant balls of flame shoot out of the sight screens.
Butterflies are building up!! Players are about to come out for the anthems http://t.co/6PNZWdDVsZ #AUSvNZ #cwc15 pic.twitter.com/jxgHdb9BFF
— ICC (@ICC) March 29, 2015
Updated
Our first random celebrity spot of the day
New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter is in the house. Why? I’ve absolutely no idea.
New York @Yankees legend Derek Jeter would love to field on this @MCG surface - it's like a billiard table. #CWC15 pic.twitter.com/DpS3pbXJW2
— Jason Bennett (@Aussies_Abroad) March 29, 2015
Some other reading before this game gets under way
There’s a nice preview of this game by Vic Marks, who also takes a gallop through the history of aggressive, power-based sides at the World Cup. Vic also picks his team of the tournament, opening the way for some debate on the issue. There’s also some details on Michael Clarke’s retirement from one-day international cricket, a case for baseball fans embracing cricket and also my own look at the role this magnificent venue might play in the outcome of the game.
Elsewhere this Kumar Sangakkara meditation on the more subtle arts of one-day batting – as told to Cricinfo’s Andrew Fernando – makes for superb and enlightening reading, which isn’t always something you can say of interviews with contemporary players.
Meanwhile, Penny Sheehan has arrived with our first email of the day. “It is spectacularly beautiful day,” she says. “How much do you think the ICC paid for it?” Ian Swan, on the other hand, is a bit toey. “I’m not buying the talk that Australians would be happy to see the Kiwis win. That’s un-Australian. There’s only one reason to play, and that’s to win. How am I feeling? Nervous.”
New Zealand win the toss and will bat
“It’s an honour to be here and have this opportunity to try and win it,” says Michael Clarke as he and Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum walk out for the toss. McCullum calls heads, wins it and elects to bat first.
“The wicket looks outstanding,” says the Kiwi skipper before confirming an unchanged line-up. “We know we’ll be tough to beat. We’ve been very fortunate to have a lot of support from back home. It’s going to be a great final, we’re very priveleged to be here.”
“I would have batted first” says Clarke. “Hopefully we can play some really good, entertaining cricket today.” And with that, you’d think the Kiwis have claimed the early advantage in this match. The wicket looks like a belter.
Australia
David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke (captain), Glenn Maxwell, Shane Watson, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand
Brendon McCullum (captain), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi, Daniel Vettori, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Trent Boult
Crowd update
There’s been a lot of pre-game talk that the MCG would be a sea of black with neutrals taking up the Kiwi cause but I must say, even at quarter-full as it is right now, bright yellow shirts are predominate. Also spied was a pair of gentlemen dress from head to toe in 1980s Kiwi beige, patriots and heroes the both of them.
This being the World Cup, there’s also Sri Lankan shirts, Irish shirts and the odd Indian shirt too.
Just on the topic of the MCG…
For my own amusement I took a look through the MCG record of each individual playing today and there was plenty of food for thought. Things I discovered:
Though he’s at home here, Glenn Maxwell Maxwell has scored just 101 runs at 25.25 in 5 ODIs at the ‘G and taken only 2 wickets at 79. He does bat a lot better in first-class games though. Could today be the day he really catches fire at the ‘G?
Aaron Finch? He loves being home. His six ODIs have reaped 391 runs at 65.16. He scored a century on debut and also that chancy hundred in the World Cup’s opening game, which feels a lifetime ago now. He’s also played 62 games of professional cricket here, a genuine anomaly in this day and age.
Steve Smith’s been a middling performer in Melbourne ODI’s; 173 at 34.60 with one half-century. Clarke has 607 at 35.7 in 19 games, hardly imposing either. Of the bowlers, Mitchell Starc (12 wickets at 15.66) loves it, Mitch Johnson (17 at 29.47) bowls well but bats badly (43 at 8.6). A demon here in Tests, Shane Watson bats adequately (428 at 35.66) and bowls like a drain (3 wkts at 141). Brad Haddin’s never made an ODI 50 and James Faulkner is half the bowler in Melbourne than he is in ODIs elsewhere in Australia. Advantage Kiwis?
The New Zealanders themselves are the unknown quantity, because only Vettori (9) and former West-Aussie Luke Ronchi (14) have played more than 2 games on the ground, a game they’d struggle to remember now. Grant Elliott made an undefeated 61 last time he graced the MCG. Will he be the hero again today?
Putting aside all of the home-ground advantage talk, it will also be interesting to see how long Brendon McCullum lasts at the crease. So far at the tournament his best efforts have been 7.4 (for 50)and 15.5 overs (for 65). If he stays out there for 20 it could drastically sway the direction of this match. Ditto David Warner. Ditto Glenn Maxwell.
Still believe M.Hayden's nonsense about the MCG? Get around this from http://t.co/Q6N8nZBjmt #MCGsobig @BLACKCAPS pic.twitter.com/rrHDCc4LDk
— Brett McKay (@BMcSport) March 28, 2015
Preamble
Hello OBOers and welcome to glorious, sunny Melbourne for this tantalizing World Cup Final match-up between co-hosts New Zealand and Australia. The prospect of these two teams facing off for the main prize has had Anipodean hearts aflutter for, well, at least 12 months. Now it’s happened.
Following the final press conference yesterday the two captains, Michael Clarke and Brendon McCullum, walked off the ground in what was either a heartwarming embrace or one of the greatest pieces of acting you’ll ever see. Today they’ll both attack. It’s what they’ve done all tournament. This game will also be Clarke’s last in an Australian ODI kit and thus his only chance to add ‘World Cup-winning captain’ to his CV. Barring another change of heart and a physical miracle, Kiwi legend Dan Vettori will also play his final World Cup match.
Criminally, these sides now barely meet each other in the one-day arena. Only three times in the last years have we seen them battle and all of those were in ICC tournaments. The last meeting was the 20th pool match of this tournament some 30 days back, a low-scoring classic that featured a swing bowling clinic from Trent Boult and Mitchell Starc and for the most part, batting as ugly as that unidentifiable slop that gathers at the bottom of the vegetable crisper. Is it cabbage? Is it lettuce? No, it’s Ross Taylor being bowled through the gate like a park cricketer.
I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t mind a low scoring game. They’re always more exciting. Picking a winner though? Well that’s almost impossible. Australia probably doesn’t even quite have the unanimous support of their own country, such is the love for McCullum’s Kiwis. I think I’ll just barrack for the contest.
But you, dear readers, you can barrack for whomever and whatever you like. Email in and tell me. Tell me who’ll win, tell me where you’re watching the game and tell me how this World Cup final is making you feel. We’re all about feelings here. I’m on russell.jackson@theguardian.com and you can also get me on twitter (better for pictures and one-liners): @rustyjacko
Russell Jackson is at the MCG and, trying not to be too smug, in a prime front-row position to bring you all the action from this World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand. Before he starts hammering away at his keyboard though, have a read of his match preview:
When Australia meet New Zealand in Melbourne on Sunday they will enter a contest between two evenly matched teams; both possessed of left-arm pacemen of destructive capabilities, back-ups of more understated qualities and batting lineups of an explosiveness that no ground could contain.
Or can it? On the modern cricketer’s endless summer traversing the globe, he might dismiss with a quiet smirk the concept of home-ground advantage, but you wonder how much confidence Australia take into this game from knowing the venue like the back of their collective hand, not a confidence their opponents boast.
Read the full article here.
