Areas where the cricket World Cup final will be won or lost by Australia or New Zealand

Australia's captain Michael Clarke, left, shakes hands with New Zealand counterpart Brendon McCullum ahead of their final match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. David Gray / Reuters

KEY MEN
Australia
Mitchell Starc
The left-arm fast bowler has been racking up some remarkable figures at this World Cup. Perhaps the most startling: batsmen have failed to connect with shots played at 27.2 per cent of his deliveries. No one comes near to matching that statistic. He is obviously Australia's go-to bowler.
Glenn Maxwell
The World Cup final, in their own backyard. This really is the big show – the real one, not the player who has had that nickname imposed upon him – for Australians. Maxwell's part in the drama could be the tipping point, though. These two sides are closely matched and if Maxwell's unpredictable batting comes off, it could be the difference.
New Zealand
Kane Williamson
New Zealand's most technically proficient batsman was the backbone of the run chase in the tense group stage win against Australia. His form has tailed off since: his haul of 222 runs is fifth-best among New Zealanders at this competition. Faced with the most testing attack in the event, the Black Caps need him to fire.
Corey Anderson
Most people beyond New Zealand thought he was a flat-track bully whose best feats were reserved for when his side were well ahead of the game. He proved there is far more to him than that with a classy alliance with Grant Elliott in the semi-final. He will need to bowl well, too, if New Zealand are to stand a chance.
PITCH
If the statistics of this World Cup are a guide, the MCG is the ultimate bat-first pitch. In each of the four matches played at the ground over the past six weeks, the side with first use have scored in excess of 300. The smallest winning margin in that time has been Sri Lanka's 92-run victory over Bangladesh after posting 332 for one in their pool match.
OUR VERDICT
New Zealand might have had two extra days to get it out of their system, but their semi-final was unquestionably far more emotionally draining than Australia's. Recovering from what must rank as one of the greatest days in their country's sporting history to try to better it against a formidable side, who are playing at home, is going to be a massive task.
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