Trust Ricky Ponting’s men to come hard against their rivals New Zealand when they clash in the final of the 2009 Champions Trophy at the SuperSport Park here on Monday. The rain threat however looms large and it will be kind on the weather God if he would make way for what appears to be a fascinating contest.
Both Ponting and Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori will be very eager to have a go at each other but the odds are now in favour of the undefeated Australians and going by the way they played their semifinal, there certainly can be only one winner. New Zealand and Australia are both past champions, the former wining it in 2000 at Nairobi and the Aussies winners in 2006 at Mumbai.
Barring a blip against the West Indies at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, Ponting’s squad have been a dominant force. This is something Vettori is very aware of.
Ponting is top scorer with 287 run leads the run-scorers’ charts with 287 runs, inclusive of the century he creamed off England’s attack while Shane Watson too ran into form in semifinals. Opener Tim Paine is at hand to start Australia off briskly and the dangerous Mike Hussey, Cameron White and Mitchell Johnson follow down the order.
The Kiwis, on the other hand, have not been very well served by their batsmen. Vettori has had to come in and play two significant innings to pull his side out of trouble — against England in the league phase and again against Pakistan when he put on 104 for the fifth wicket with Grant Elliott.
At the top of the order, Brendon McCullum will be more than a handful and Martin Guptill has really fired here. The Black Caps will also miss Jesse Ryder and Jacob Oram, but Vettori will be looking to use Elliott albeit judiciously.
With the ball too, Australia have the edge though Vettori has been among the top three bowlers here. Brett Lee is back to his fast and accurate self and has Johnson, Peter Siddle and James Hopes operating behind him, besides the off-spin of Nathan Hauritz.
The New Zealanders will be banking on doing little things correctly and Australians will vow to steamroll their opposition to claim their second straight Champions Trophy title
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