The ever improving Team New Zealand
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All roads lead to the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the world is set to witness the Trans-Tasman rivalry in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final. Both host nations Australia and New Zealand will square off against each other for the second time in this edition. (New Zealand have Won Back 'Lost Fans' )
The last time was a ruckus. Australia got shot down cheaply, while New Zealand almost made a mess of the chase. It was stunning game but it also exposed the vulnerabilities of both finalists.
New Zealand have always been a competitive side. You don't play seven World Cup semifinals unless you are loaded with quality. However, they have always missed an X-factor that has prevented them from going all the way. (New Zealand Will Have to Dig Deep: Martin Crowe )
This time, the team's oozing with X-factor, in fact X-FACTORS! Hence, they have been a treat to watch. They stormed through the group stages, were clinical in the knockouts and have done all that with a degree of disdain.
That's what has changed in the Kiwis - the show of disdain. (Australia-New Zealand Final Revives 'Underarm' Memories )
However, no team can have all their bases covered. The Kiwis didn't either.
Even while singing their praise, the experts expressed their doubts but Brendon McCullum's side has improved with every game to prove them wrong.
Myth 1 - It's all about the Big Mac
Martin Guptill has joined the party with Big Mac!
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Everybody knows what McCullum is capable of but there were question marks on Martin Guptill's ability.
Guptill has been around for a long time but has seldom fired. There had been the odd good innings but he was never a match winner.
This World Cup, the dice has finally rolled for him.
Guptill started off slowly. With McCullum blazing away at the other end, there's nothing much most can do. With scores of 49, 17, 22, 11, he did what was required - push the singles and hand the strike back to skipper.
But what happens when McCullum fails?
McCullum failed against Bangladesh and Guptill stood up. He slammed a hundred and rescued the Black Caps in a tricky chase. Then, he became the first Kiwi to become a double centurion in ODIs.
And now, with McCullum and Guptill at the top, New Zealand boast of the one of the most dangerous opening pairs in this World Cup.
Myth 2 - The dodgy middle-order
Grant Elliot is the new pillar in the Kiwi middle-order
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The middle-order was all about Kane Williamson and it was New Zealand's biggest weakness. Ross Taylor is past him prime, most didn't know who Grant Elliott was and Corey Anderson and Luke Ronchi were hit and miss cases.
The beginning of the World Cup saw the Kiwi middle-order falter against Scotland, crumble against Australia and scrape their way through against Bangladesh.
Not anymore.
Williamson and Taylor are yet to play the defining knocks but the calm of Elliott and the aggression of Anderson have galvanized the middle-order.
Elliott rose from his ashes like a phoenix. Not many believed in him and most questioned his inclusion in the squad. Now, the Johannesburg-born right-hander is a player to watch out for in the final.
The new myth - The daunting MCG
Taming the 'G' - New Zealand's new challenge
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Playing away from home is tough. Playing your arch rivals in a World Cup final at their den is tougher. This will be the first time the Kiwis would be away from home and that too at the MCG. (MCG will be Daunting for New Zealand: Michael Clarke )
The Australian ex-players have already sounded their warnings about how the conditions would be completely different.
No Swing for the fast men
The bowling department is New Zealand's strongest suit. However, the MCG wouldn't provide much swing for Tim Southee and Trent Boult. The wicket would be much flatter and David Warner up top would be in ultra-attacking mode.
Long Boundaries
At the MCG, if you hit, it has to stay hit! The mishits won't carry the distance and the likes of McCullum and Anderson would be found out.
However, the stats show that during the quarters and semis, New Zealand hit 25 sixes and 16 of them would have flown over the ropes even at the 'G'!
Moreover, the longer boundaries would be a welcome aid for the wily craftsman Daniel Vettori.
Fearsome pace trio
For the first time, New Zealand would be up against an in-form pace trio. If Mitchell Starc has been exceptional, the other Mitch - Mitchell Johnson --has sprung back into action at the correct time. And then there is the annoying accuracy of Josh Hazlewood.
New Zealand have a big job on hand - beat Australia at the 'G' to clinch the crown. If we go by the experts, the stakes are slightly loaded against them. Then again, the Kiwis have been debunking the myths throughout the tournament.
At the MCG, they might just do it again!
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