What a day for Australia, they were convincing winners of their fifth World Cup trophy. And that is where we will leave it... be sure to watch out for reaction throughout the day on the BBC Sport cricket pages. It's been a pleasure to have your company throughout the tournament. Be sure to check in with us when England tour West Indies in a fortnight. Until 13 April, it's goodbye from the cricket team.

Image source, Reuters

Pat Murphy
BBC Radio 5 live

On Twitter:, external ICC's Dave Richardson lets cat out of the bag on TMS by admitting next two World Cups will be reduced from 14 to 10 teams because of TV deal. I'm sure the largesse for the ICC from the World Cup TV deal will be a major consolation to teams like Ireland, Scotland & Afghanistan.

Former England pace bowler Steve Harmison on BBC Radio 5 live: "The big surprise for me was India - they didn't look confident going into the tournament but they came very close to winning it at the end. Whereas West Indies and England didn't turn up."

Former England pace bowler Steve Harmison on BBC Radio 5 live: "Australia have got strength in depth - if anything's wrong with Michael Clarke, George Bailey comes into the side and captains. If not, he doesn't play. Brad Haddin holds them all together and when the big occasion comes, he stands up to be counted. England would never dream of picking two players like Finch and Warner at the top of the order."

Image source, AFP

Former England one-day wicketkeeper Paul Nixon on BBC Radio 5 live: "Australia just bowled so straight, they gave no width. Geoff Boycott talks about the corridor of uncertainty but in one-day cricket you just want to free your arms, and we saw so many balls fly through second slip, gully or point. We thought England were in a good place until the last Ashes, but Australia have come back and got stronger and stronger. They're in a good place."

Former England pace bowler Steve Harmison on BBC Radio 5 live: "Batsmen aren't scared of pace any more. If you get it slightly off at pace, it's going to go to the boundary. Australia have won the tournament by bowling in the right place at the right time."

This is what the World Cup trophy looks like close up. Nice, isn't it?

Image source, Reuters

Former England pace bowler Steve Harmison on BBC Radio 5 live: "At the start of the World Cup there were four powerhouses, they all got to the semi-finals, and probably the best team won it. Australia were rightly champions. Everyone asked if it would be power, sixes and fours and scoring 400, but in the end I thought the team who bowled the best would win the World Cup - that's why I went for South Africa. But the left-armers have been able to swing it at pace."

Former England one-day wicketkeeper Paul Nixon on BBC Radio 5 live: "As an Englishman you're always hoping for Australian to make a mistake. But I'm delighted for Darren Lehmann who's a top bloke and was a stalwart of county cricket. Australia attacked the new batsmen very well today and never gave them a sniff."

Australia 186-3 from 33.1 overs won by seven wickets

Not out batsmen: Smith 56, Watson 2

Fall of wickets: 2-1 (Finch 0), 63-2 (Warner 45), 175-3 (Clarke 74)

Bowling figures: Southee 8-0-65-0, Boult 10-0-40-1, Vettori 5-0-25-0, Henry 9.1-0-46-2, Anderson 1-0-7-0

New Zealand 183 (45 overs): Elliott 83, Johnson 3-30, Faulkner 3-36

NZ won toss

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Scorecard

Australia lost Aaron Finch for a duck, bowled by Trent Boult, but Michael Clarke ending his ODI career with a flourish and hitting 74 off 72 balls to see his side over the line. It was a procession in the end.

In case you're just joining us, Mitchell Starc took the roof off the MCG with a searing yorker which bowled Brendon McCullum for a duck in the first over of the game. Grant Elliott's 83 gave New Zealand hope of a decent total but they lost their last seven wickets for 33 runs. Ominously, Mitchell Johnson was on form from ball one - bowling fast and furious and picking up figures of 3-30.

More from Mitchell Starc: "I've worn my black armband every day of training and playing since it happened. He will never be forgotten and he's definitely part of this World Cup squad."

More from Mitchell Starc: "After the game in NZ, we knew we had to assess McCullum as we went. I got a plan going to bowl a decent yorker to him first up. I'm not sure how the first one missed, but the third one hit."

Player of the tournament Mitchell Starc: "It's nice to see bat dominate ball every now and again. There's been some big scores, but the whole tournament has been fantastic. We've worked really hard at our bowling. The whole bowling unit was awesome."

The Australian press conference is coming up. First we'll hear from Mitchell Starc and James Faulkner...

Daily Mail cricket correspondent Paul Newman:, external Typically classy of New Zealand to postpone retirement announcements until later so all attention on Australia after their World Cup win...

Mark Cohen: As is so often the case, a semi-final not the final was the best game but Australia played their best when it mattered most.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Melbourne

"Brendon McCullum's press conference finishes with a round of applause. I've never seen that before."

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum: "We've created memories and friendships that will last for the rest of our lives. It would have been nice to have won it, but I'm sure everyone will be proud of what we've been able to achieve."