Australia and New Zealand contest the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 on March 29th.

    The stage is set and the players have been decided.

    This Sunday (March 29th) sees the curtain come down on the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup and it is the two host nations who will contest the final. Australia and New Zealand have played some stunning cricket to reach what many believe to be the perfect final in the shadow of iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

    But who will come out on top?

    Australia will arrive at their home of cricket looking to become unprecedented five-time World Cup winners and lift the trophy for the fourth time in five championship years. For New Zealand, it is a real first for the Kiwis. They have never previously reached a World Cup final and winning on Australian soil would make it even sweeter.

    So where do the key battles lie? Here is our preview to the 2015 ICC World Cup final.

     

    How do Australia cope with McCullum?

    New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum has been in inspired form in this year's World Cup. He currently boasts the highest strike rate of any batsman to have faced over 250 balls in all of World Cup cricket. So how do Australia cope with this powerhouse at the crease?

    Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood will be key to Australia's success and will no doubt be going all out to claim the stumps of McCullum early on. However, should he remain at the crease, BBC's cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew the Aussies will have to be patient and continue to work away.

     

    Will the previous meeting prove significant?

    The two sides have met already in this year's World Cup with New Zealand triumphing by one wicket in Auckland. This pulsating match saw a stunning bowling display from Trent Boult who took five Australian wickets. However, Starc responded in earnest, claiming the stumps of six New Zealand batsmen.

    New Zealand have not looked back since and remain unbeaten in this year's competition and one more win will see them crowned champions.

     

    Conditions

    New Zealand have been in strong form on their own turf but have still to play a game outside of their home country. Entering the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground with a capacity crowd of 95,000 could prove a whole different ball game.

    This could suggest that the advantage will be with Australia, but there is the possibility that the Aussies could wilt under the pressure of a boisterous home crowd.

    All it means is that we have one intriguing final on our hands

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