Neil Leverett: Could Ross Taylor's lack of form be the key in this game?

RebeccaB70: I've done my bet on Australia. Either they're suitably cursed, or I'm winning a dollar forty five.

AlanIreland: Isn't a clothed streaker just a "person"?

Former Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne:, external Boooooooommmm. Wow, what a start that is for Aust. Well done Mr Starc, just awesome, that first over was as good a over as you will ever see.

The temperature is in the Mark Ealhams (mid-seventies) on this bright, autumnal day in Melbourne. Josh Hazlewood looks a little pink in the face as he continues to bowl a tight, miserly length. Just four runs from the over.

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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"The Aussies have bowled very well at Williamson, bowling it full with pace. He's such an important player for New Zealand."

Listen to TMS commentary via the audio tab.

Hallam Baker-Howard: A massive performer is McCullum for New Zealand but an average a touch over 30! That doesn't shout world class.

S. P. Cooper: Cannot blame McCullum for playing his natural game when it has brought him victory after victory. Sometimes it will fail.

Harry Feachen: Brendan gone early is only leading to a poor show from NZ. Calling it now Australia have this game! BM was the danger man!

Kane Williamson, who hit the six which settled the contest between these two titans in the group stages, is having a few problems against Mitchell Starc. There a couple of plays and misses, evasive action to avoid a bouncer before he's off the mark with a thick edge over point.

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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"This is the second successive World Cup that two co-hosts have met in the final, after India and Sri Lanka in 2011. And you know who's hosting in 2019?!"

Jim Maxwell suggests: "So will it be an England-Ireland final? Or England-Scotland?"

Luke Howles: From the very first ball Starc bowled in the tri-series, you knew he was going to have a great World Cup.

Ahmed: It's a joy to watch Starc bowl.

Martin Guptill is now the leading run-scorer in the tournament with a fortuitous top-edge for six over the keeper's head. Unless somebody gets a massive hundred, it's hard to see Guptill losing that crown now.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"This is the first time there has been a wicket in the first over of a World Cup final.

"Starc has bowled 12 of his 21 victims in this World Cup. The second most bowled victims in one World Cup is nine by Wasim Akram in 1992."

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Jim Maxwell
BBC Test Match Special

"This is a threat to any batsman when a guy is bowling at 150kph with bounce, swing and control. That screaming yorker was just too good for McCullum."

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Boundaries have been ten a penny in this tournament, but supreme bowling has been few and far between so it's great to see somebody like Mitchell Starc dominating with the ball. The 25-year-old swings another one into the right-handed Martin Guptill but the opener gets an inside edge on to his pads. The batsman then breaks the shackles with a sweetly-timed cover drive to the boundary.

Shrochis: Nepali in the UK nervous for NZ! Captain Fantastic gone now, but hope the non-English Kane comes good today...

Amrut Atre: What an idiotic start from Brendon. Should've stayed there. Not what NZ needed. Naive.

mahmz: The Starc Knight Rises.

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Josh Hazlewood is less dynamic than Mitchell Starc but more metronomic in his line and length. When he does stray, however, Kane Williamson helps the ball to the boundary for four leg-byes.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Melbourne

"Without trying to be wise after the event, you could feel it coming. McCullum played three awful shots, the third to a very, very good ball. The MCG, already 90% full, erupted, while Starc was off on a Imran Tahir celebration run. McCullum knew the dangers of playing that way and he's failed at the worst possible time."

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Did you see that celebration from Starc? He was running away like Alan Shearer, running down to fine leg."

Listen to TMS commentary via the audio tab.

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Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"The perfect start, exactly where the Australian think-tank would have thought to bowl to McCullum. Get it full, get it straight, a bit of movement and the perfect start. The canary yellows are all up in the ground, they know how big that wicket is.

"The more I see Starc, the more I think he'll have a year like Mitchell Johnson did in Test cricket where he just blows teams away. If you can swing the white ball, you can do it with the red ball."

The majority of the MCG is on its feet as Mitchell Starc completes a tremendous first over. Kane Williamson is the new batsman. What is B-Mac thinking right about now?

Image source, AP

Mitchell Starc is on top of the world. The left-arm seamer delivers an early knockdown when he gets a full one to nip in and beat Brendon McCullum and the skipper's timbers are splattered. Big, big wicket. A big, big talent.

Scorecard

Image source, AFP

Brendon McCullum's first ball? He's stuck back in his crease and the ball swings in and almost takes the top of off. Mitchell Starc has his hands on his head. B-Mac acknowledges the good delivery.