New Zealand vs. Australia: Date, Live Stream, Cricket World Cup Final Preview

Sporting clashes between the green and gold of Australia and the black of New Zealand always demand excitement, but there have been few more hotly anticipated meetings of these two proud sporting nations than when they square off in the final of the Cricket World Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

The two nations have been the standout performers at this tournament and should ensure we see a top-class final.

But factor in the longstanding rivalry that bristles between the two countries—stirred even further by the Black Caps' thrilling one-wicket win over Australia in the pool stages—and what’s at stake for the victors, it’s going to be some occasion.

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It’s a match each team dare not lose, and with a capacity crowd of circa 100,000 set to provide a stunning backdrop, this is a game not to be missed.

Here’s all the information needed on where to catch the match via a stream and a closer examination of both sides on the cusp of this engrossing competition’s climax.

Date: Sunday, Mar. 29.

Time: 4:30 a.m. BST/2:30 p.m. local/11:30 p.m. ET, Mar. 28

Forecast: Sunny, 25 °C

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), ESPN Cricket 2015 (US)

Glory up for Grabs at the MCG

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For a New Zealand player, the Hollywood story is there to be seized. Having won every match at this tournament already on home soil, they now travel to Melbourne as underdogs with the chance to win their first-ever World Cup in Australia’s backyard.

Incentives don’t come much more enticing than that for a Kiwi.

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It’s an ominous task and one that this Black Caps team probably wouldn’t have fancied in years gone by. But under the stewardship of their boisterous skipper Brendon McCullum, this New Zealand team has fashioned a fearlessness to its play that should stand the players in excellent stead.

As noted by cricket statistician Mohandas Menon, despite the heroics so far, this is a team that still has something to prove:

They look set on doing so, though. The win over Australia and the thrilling triumph over South Africa in the semi-final are not results that would typically go New Zealand’s way, but there’s a renewed steeliness about this team that comes to the fore in tight situations.

It’s an underpinning mentality that complements these talented Black Caps players, making New Zealand pretty formidable opponents.

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McCullum’s captaincy has been key to that, something noted by former England skipper Michael Atherton:

As we can see here courtesy of Freddie Wilde of ESPN cricinfo, McCullum leads by example with the bat, too:

"

Brendon McCullum is the only top-order (1-4) player in the top 18 SRs of #CWC15 & is third overall with 191.81. #NZ pic.twitter.com/P9AymKa26x

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) March 26, 2015"

You suspect they’re going to have to perform at their very best to get the better of Australia, however. The Baggy Greens have been growing in stature throughout the tournament and were pretty much flawless in beating India in the semi-finals.

They’ll be able to tap into what should be a fervent crowd in their favour at the MCG, too.

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Former India player Aakash Chopra paid tribute to the Aussies' display after knocking out the reigning champions:

In Steve Smith, Australia have a player in magnificent form, too. He’s really come into his own in the latter stages of this World Cup and led from the front against India with a supreme 105.

Given the year he’s had in all formats, and his unwaveringly admirable temperament, it’d be no surprise to see the batsman rise to the occasion with another virtuoso display here.

Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

As we can see courtesy of Sky Sports News HQ, it’s been a pretty special 2015 for the Aussie:

But there’s an unshakeable sense that despite the form of this Australia team, this World Cup will be New Zealand’s.

McCullum’s men have overcome every challenge that’s faced them so far, and while this match represents a much sterner test of their credentials, this is a team that will relish the occasion and flourish as underdogs.

It’s going to take a massive effort from the Black Caps, but they have the talent and the tenacity to leap over this final hurdle and secure the first World Cup in their history in what will be the most satisfying manner imaginable.

Prediction: New Zealand win