WICKETpublished at 05:27 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
It's the World Cup final, the day you've been waiting for all your life. Just don't chip a slower ball straight back to the bowler. Off you trot, Kane.
Image source, Getty ImagesSummary
Australia win fifth World Cup
Victory secured with 16.5 overs spare
Captain Clarke 74 and Smith 56 not out
Faulkner 3-36 & Johnson 3-30 in NZ's 183
Starc bowled McCullum in first over
Faulker man of match; Starc man of CWC
93,013 crowd in Melbourne; NZ won toss
WICKETpublished at 05:27 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Image source, Getty ImagesNZ 38-2 (NZ won toss)published at 05:25 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Glenn Maxwell is cleanly shaven today. Perhaps his Mum is watching. He doesn't look as moody, but why would he be? He's just taken a wicket with his second ball in the World Cup final. Ross Taylor is the new batsman and he gets off the mark straight away with a boundary through the covers.
How's stat?published at 05:25 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician"Most runs in a World Cup: 673 Sachin Tendulkar (2003), 659 Matthew Hayden (2007), 548 Mahela Jayawardene (2007), 547 Martin Guptill (2015)."
Postpublished at 05:24 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special"The first ball from Maxwell was pretty ropey, short and wide, and Guptill hit it straight to a fielder. He was trying to make amends for it next ball - it was fuller, straighter, and he missed it. Another big wicket for Australia, both openers gone and both had terrorised attacks during the tournament. Williamson and Taylor both like to take their time and build the innings, but it's a delicate balancing act for them."
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 05:22 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special"That's a real bonus for Australia. Guptill went back to a ball he might have gone forward to, and the ball clean bowled him."
Listen to TMS commentary via the audio tab.
Image source, Getty ImagesWICKETpublished at 05:21 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Oh no, it's not going well for the Kiwis. Glenn Maxwell is brought on to take pace off the ball and bowls Martin Guptill with a straight one. The batsman was looking to run it into the off side. Poor.
Image source, Getty ImagesNZ 33-1 (Johnson 2-0-3-0)published at 05:19 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Mitchell Johnson looks in ominous form today. Twice he runs the ball just past Kane Williamson's groping outside edge. There's plenty of pace and a fair few stares towards the batsman from beneath his ample mop of hair and masculine moustache. Just two singles from the over. The Black Caps are just bobbing along without direction at the moment.
Postpublished at 05:19 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special"I've heard Starc described as 'Bruce Reid with muscles'."
Postpublished at 05:19 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Melbourne"Where has this movement come from? We didn't expect the ball to swing. It has. We thought the pitch would be a road, but there's exaggerated seam movement. For 11 overs, New Zealand have barely laid bat on ball. There's more misses than Henry VIII."
Scorecard updatepublished at 05:16 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
New Zealand 31-1 from 10 overs (NZ won toss)
Batsmen: Guptill 14 from 31 balls (1x4, 1x6), Wiliamson 11 from 26 (1x4)
Fall of wickets: 1-1 (McCullum 0)
Bowling figures: Starc 4-0-8-1, Hazlewood 5-1-18-0, Johnson 1-0-1-0
Listen to TMS commentary via the audio tab.
NZ 31-1 (Hazlewood 5-1-18-0)published at 05:15 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Kane Williamson is really battling out there. After batting back a Josh Hazlewood delivery, he grimaces. His touch might just be returning though as he hangs back on the back foot and drives four straight down the ground. He then pulls three through mid-wicket. Better.
Image source, Getty ImagesJoin the debate at #bbccricketpublished at 05:15 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Paul Edwards: You asked if anyone from Australia was watching. Yes, I'm watching the web coverage instead of switching on the TV (multitasking).
Declan Young: Follow the cricket as a Englishmen in Aus. Three cartons of beer riding on the Kiwis. Need to make up for losses on the English.
Jon Briggs: In Melbourne for #ICCWorldCup2015. Stuck shopping for shoes with girlfriend. #ManProblems
Postpublished at 05:15 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special"Johnson hasn't been the main man at this tournament, Starc is the go-to bowler so they'll want a few overs of Starc available for the powerplay. The Aussie bowlers look on their game, but Clarke isn't over-attacking - he only has two slips in."
Listen to TMS commentary via the audio tab.
NZ 24-1 (NZ won toss)published at 05:11 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Imagine being torn apart by Lionel Messi and then the opposition brings on Cristiano Ronaldo. That's what it feels like at the MCG as Mitchell Johnson replaces Mitchell Starc in the bowling attack and starts with a nasty lifter which crashes into the gloves of a leaping Martin Guptill. That'll sting. Just one from the over.
Join the debate at #bbccricketpublished at 05:11 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Vishal: I've left a co-worker's bday party and said no to a pyjama party so I could watch the final. #BackTheBlackCaps
Alex Davies: Kiwis looking a bit overawed by the occasion at the moment, feel they need a big over to get going.
taurai mukahlera: "Right, children, spell D-I-F-F-E-R-E-N-C-E". M-I-T-C-H.
Postpublished at 05:08 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special"That one bounced more than Williamson expected. He was looking to lift it over the slip cordon. It would be a mistake for New Zealand to get uptight about losing McCullum, as we've seen at this World Cup how quickly you can accelerate if you have batsmen in who are well set by about the 35th over."
NZ 23-1 (Guptill 14, Williamson 4)published at 05:06 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Anybody following us from Australia and New Zealand? Surely it's a get the friends round and fire up the barbecue type of day? Josh Hazlewood has the bit between his teeth as Kane Williamson misses with an attempted ramp shot and cops some verbals from the young quick. Maiden over.
Image source, Getty ImagesJoin the debate at #bbccricketpublished at 05:06 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
Kieran Newcombe: Pressure finally got to McCullum? Pretty silly from himself.
Alan Morgan: MCG looking resplendent, it has been a great World Cup so let's hope the final lives up to expectations, great start.
Jack Butcher: This is a 'Starc' contrast on how McCullum must of dreamt it last night! What a start for the Aussies.
1992 flashback: Imran inflicts more agony on Englandpublished at 05:03 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
The 1992 tournament in Australia and New Zealand expanded to 10 teams after the end of South Africa's sporting isolation.
It was a World Cup full of innovations: coloured clothing, white balls (one at each end), fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs (which led to experimentation such as New Zealand employing Mark Greatbatch as a pinch-hitter and opening the bowling with Dipak Patel's off-spin), and controversial rain rules which famously put paid to South Africa in the semi-finals.
Pakistan, inspired by veteran captain Imran Khan, had limped into the final against a strong-looking England side packed with all-rounders, but Imran's "cornered tigers" prevailed at the MCG.
Wasim Akram broke English hearts with a devastating spell of quick bowling as Graham Gooch became the only man to pick up a third losing finalist's medal.
Final (Melbourne): Pakistan beat England by 22 runs
Image source, Getty ImagesNZ 23-1 (NZ won toss)published at 05:03 British Summer Time 29 March 2015
The last time the World Cup final was held at the MCG, it was another left-arm quick who dominated. Nope, not Alan Mullally... I'm talking about Wasim Akram.
Mitchell Starc is on fire here, running the ball across Martin Guptill's flailing outside side. Fast, full and darting about... how do you play this type of bowling? I'm not sure I've seen anyone take apart Starc in this tournament, which is a compliment when you consider it's been the highest scoring World Cup ever.
Image source, Getty Images