New Zealand vs Australia - 4 key battles | ICC T20 World Cup final 2021

New Zealand will take on Australia in the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in an all-Oceania game that few expected. New Zealand and Australia respectively beat favourites England and Pakistan in more than convincing fashion, and now stand to make history on Sunday.

Neither team has won this prestigious tournament before, Australia coming closest to winning in the third edition when they lost to England in the final. If Australia win this game, they will go to the next T20 World Cup in their own backyard next year as the defending champions.

If New Zealand win, they will hold the ICC title in two different formats simultaneously, cementing them as arguably the best team across formats at the moment. But before either team gets there, they will need to see off each other.

On that note, here's a look at four key matchups that could be key in the outcome of this blockbuster clash.

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#1 David Warner (Australia) vs Trent Boult (New Zealand)

Australia vs England - ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021

Australia and New Zealand, being neighbours and everything, have seen a lot of each other. And so have these two - Australia's lead opener David Warner and New Zealand's lead pacer Trent Boult.

While Boult has managed to pick up Warner only once before in a T20I game), he has managed to keep the left-hander very, very quiet. Australia's chief wrecker in charge has scored only 37 runs in 38 balls against Boult across T20Is and IPL games.

On the contrary, Warner absolutely enjoys batting against Tim Southee - 84 runs scored in 44 balls. Adam Milne is not so lucky either, having conceded 30 runs in 13 balls against Warner.

Boult might not have delivered his best in the semi-final. But as the only one among the New Zealand seamers against whom Warner has struggled before, he will look to keep the opener quiet again. However, considering Warner's scintillating form, that could be a tall task.

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#2 Martin Guptill (New Zealand) vs Mitchell Starc (Australia)

Australia vs Bangladesh - ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021

This is another battle at the top of the innings. New Zealand's aggressive opener Martin Guptill will take on Australia's premium pacer Mitchell Starc to see who can give their side the advantage at the start of the innings.

Guptill scored only four runs in the semi-final, but the intent was clear. His job is to only score runs quickly, and he has been doing that at the top consistently for New Zealand for several years now. And if there is one way to throw Australia off their rhythm, it is to hit them hard and hit them early.

Starc has slowly come into his own in the tournament, and knows how to play on the big stage. His experience should come in handy, as will his swing in the early overs.

His death bowling might not be up to the mark as was seen against Pakistan. But if Starc can get rid of Guptill, it would go a long way in denting New Zealand's batting.

#3 Adam Zampa (Australia) vs Ish Sodhi (New Zealand)

England vs New Zealand - ICC Men's T20 World Cup Semi-Final 2021

This is not a direct head-to-head per se, but both Australia's Adam Zampa and New Zealand's Ish Sodhi have been excellent in the tournament. They have made use of the conditions wonderfully. Moreover, both are bowlers who always look to take wickets, and both have economies well under par for T20 cricket.

Fortunately or unfortunately, both will come up against some good players of spin, which is why this battle becomes a key one. Whether Sodhi can keep Maxwell and Warner quiet or Zampa can do likewise to Kane Williamson and Glenn Philips quiet could well be key in the context of the game.

Both teams won their semi-final games with heavy hitting at the death, the middle overs battle would be key. In Kane Williamson, New Zealand have one of the best players of spin. Meanwhile, in Maxwell, Australia have one of the most attacking players against slow bowlers.

The two team's fortunes could well depend on how they fare against the main opposition spinner on the day.

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#4 James Neesham (New Zealand) vs Mitchell Marsh (Australia)

England vs New Zealand - ICC Men's T20 World Cup Semi-Final 2021

From the battle of the spinners, we move to the battle of the all-rounders. Both James Neesham and Mitchell Marsh played key knocks in the semi-finals to get their teams over the line. They might have to do so again on Sunday.

Marsh has been pivotal to Australia's batting, and has delivered most times when called upon. He has also served as Australia's handy sixth bowling option for the team, slipping in an over or two.

James Neesham, meanwhile, has done all that and more, while managing to pick wickets. As a bowler who mostly bowls near the death, he is more vital to New Zealand's bowling than it may look like at first glance. And as a finisher, he sure packs a punch, something which he showcased against England.

The two men have contrasting roles, though. Marsh's is to consolidate in the middle overs and set up the chase for the finishers. Meanwhile, Neesham's is to put the finishing touches in both batting and bowling. Nevertheless, both are vital cogs in the wheel for the two finalists.