Published: Mar 28, 2015, 02:56 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 28, 2015, 02:58 PM (IST)
The co-hosts of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 are into the final of the tournament which will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Bharath Seervi presents a statistical preview of this final clash of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. PREVIEW: Australia (AUS) vs New Zealand (NZ) ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 FINAL
For the second time in succession, the co-hosts have entered into the finals of a World Cup. The last World Cup was co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh: India and Sri Lanka played the final at the Wankhede Stadium on April 2, 2011. Similarly in this World Cup, hosts Australia and New Zealand will face each other in the final at MCG. SCORECARD: ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Final Australia (AUS) vs New Zealand (NZ) at Melbourne
Australia and New Zealand have been arch rivals over the ages; the rendezvous between them is always a treat to watch. This time it is a World Cup final in front of close to an audience of 100,000 at MCG and millions worldwide. New Zealand fans expected to flock MCG in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final
This will be their second facing in this World Cup as they played against each other at Eden Park in the first round. That match is already a contender for the best match of the tournament. Australia had collapsed from 80/1 to 106/9 before being bowled out for 151. New Zealand had a good start but soon got from 78/1 to 146/9 and finally won by one wicket. It is expected to be a nail-biter once again. ICC Cricket World Cup final 2015: Brendon McCullum calls for Indian fans to back Black Caps
Australia has been the dominant team against New Zealand in the history of ODIs, having won more than 65% of the matches played between them. New Zealand is unbeaten in this World Cup, but they played all their matches in New Zealand: the final at MCG will be their first in Australia in this World Cup.
Australia vs New Zealand – Head to Head record
| Played | Australia won | New Zealand won | No result | |
| In Australia | 60 | 38 | 18 | 4 |
| In New Zealand | 47 | 30 | 16 | 1 |
| At neutral venues | 19 | 17 | 1 | 1 |
| In World Cups | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Overall ODIs | 126 | 85 | 35 | 6 |
The teams have met nine times in World Cups. Australia have won six of them, while New Zealand have won three. Australia had lost to them in the 1992 World Cup at Eden Park and in 1999 World Cup at Cardiff before losing in this World Cup at Eden Park.
Australia vs New Zealand in World Cups
| Date | Venue | Scores | Winner | Margin | Man of the Match |
| 18-Oct-87 | Indore | Aus 199/4 (30), NZ 196/9 (30) | Australia | 3 runs | David Boon |
| 27-Oct-87 | Chandigarh | Aus 251/8 (50), NZ 234 (48.4) | Australia | 17 runs | Geoff Marsh |
| 22-Feb-92 | Eden Park | NZ 248/6 (50), Aus 211 (48.1) | New Zealand | 37 runs | Martin Crowe |
| 11-Mar-96 | Chepauk | NZ 286/9 (50), Aus 289/4 (47.5) | Australia | 6 wickets | Mark Waugh |
| 20-May-99 | Cardiff | Aus 213/8 (50), NZ 214/5 (45.2) | New Zealand | 5 wickets | Roger Twose |
| 11-Mar-03 | St George’s Park | Aus 208/9 (50), NZ 112 (30.1) | Australia | 96 runs | Shane Bond |
| 20-Apr-07 | St George’s | Aus 348/6 (50), NZ 133 (25.5) | Australia | 215 runs | Matthew Hayden |
| 25-Feb-11 | Nagpur | NZ 206 (45.1), Aus 167/3 (34) | Australia | 7 wickets | Mitchell Johnson |
| 28-Feb-15 | Eden Park | Aus 151 (32.2), NZ 152/9 (23.1) | New Zealand | 1 wickets | Trent Boult |
Australia vs New Zealand: last five ODIs
| Date | Venue | Winner | Margin | Man of the Match |
| 28-Feb-15 | Eden Park | New Zealand | 1 wicket | Trent Boult |
| 12-Jun-13 | Edgbaston | no result | – | – |
| 25-Feb-11 | Nagpur | Australia | 7 wickets | Mitchell Johnson |
| 13-Mar-10 | Wellington | New Zealand | 51 runs | Tim Southee |
| 11-Mar-10 | Eden Park | Australia | 6 wickets | Cameron White |
The last three encounters have all been in the ICC tournaments.
Australia are playing a World Cup final for the seventh time while it will be the first time for New Zealand. New Zealand have lost six semi-finals before making it to the final for this first time in this edition. The last time New Zealand played in Australia was more than six years ago on February 13, 2009.
Records & Milestones to look for in the final:
– Martin Guptill needs ten runs to become the highest run getter in this World Cup eclipsing Kumar Sangakkara’s 541.
– Trent Boult has 21 wickets to his name in this World Cup and Mitchell Starc 20. Both are left-arm bowlers. Most wickets by a left-arm bowler in a single World Cup edition is 23 by Chaminda Vaas in 2003. The most wickets in a single World Cup edition is 26 by Glenn McGrath in 2007.
– Southee took 18 wickets in the last World Cup and has 15 scalps to his name in this World Cup. If he takes three more wickets, he will join Glenn McGrath (thrice) and Zaheer Khan (twice) to take 18 or more wickets in more than one World Cup edition.
(Bharath Seervi is a cricket statistician who is obsessed with digging numbers, facts and records related to the game. An active member of Society of Cricket Statisticians of India, he blogs at www.cricketseervistats.blogspot.com. He can be followed on Twitter at @SeerviBharath and on Facebook here)
