ICC World Cup 2015: 5 weaknesses of New Zealand that Australia can exploit

Australia are in their seventh World Cup final. Next to Steven Smith hitting the stumps directly, Umar Akmal dropping a catch and MS Dhoni finishing an innings, it is about the most frequent event in world cricket. They are pitted against New Zealand, everyone’s favorite team right now, including of the Indians who stay in Australia. It says something about a team which is hated unanimously around the world and the team which is loved unanimously around the world. For a while, West Indies were every cricket fan’s second favourite team, and New Zealand have brought the same joy into cricket while also winning consistently. The Black Caps have already proven themselves as the best team their country has ever produced by breaking the semi-final jinx and finally making it to the World Cup final. They have motivation too, in the form of Daniel Vettori, who might be playing his last game for New Zealand, and Martin Crowe, their most astute captain and batsman ever. They have already beaten Australia once in a pool game and will look to emulate the same in the final. However, here are five New Zealand weaknesses which Australia could target to lift an unprecedented 5th title.

#1 New Zealand\'s aggression could backfire

Could Brendon McCullum's aggression as captain and with the bat backfire on the big day?

Sometimes, your biggest strength could also be your biggest weakness. Brendon McCullum lives and dies by the sword. A lot of his other top players do the same as well. New Zealands brand of cricket, like their rugby, is fearless, all-attacking. We saw that in McCullums approach against South Africa. We saw Corey Andersons counter-punch in the same game at a later stage. When in doubt, they swing. When under pressure, they swing. When in control, they swing.

Australia are an aggressive team too, but a little less relentless and a little more restrained. Their calculated aggression could get the better of the Black Caps especially now that the latters attacking instincts are so predictable. Even to a bouncer with two men in deep on the on side, McCullum is likely to hook. Such predictability might have won games for them all through the World Cup, but a final is a different monster. You are always better off with a hidden ace. New Zealand dont have one!

#2 Lack of big match experience

New Zealand will be playing their first ever World Cup final

This is New Zealands first World Cup final. While their talismanic leader, Brendon McCullum, will ensure they are not overwhelmed and stress that they should play the game for the joy of it, the inexperienceis still a major hurdle. MichaelClarke knows what it is like to win a World Cup final. This is his second. This is also his last game, 244 games worth of experience, a lot of them wins.

Australia know by default what it takes to win the big moments in a big game. New Zealand showed how settling those nerves down and taking the big moments is important when they did the same against South Africa, a team that wanted the win too badly and ended up missing out on critical processes. Come the big game, a lot of New Zealand players would be playing in front of the biggest crowd theyve ever seen, in one of the biggest grounds. The occasion can get to you.

Four of the likely Australian starting XI have been in the 2007 World Cup winning squad (Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin). Two of them (Clarke, Watson) played the final when Adam Gilchrist blitzed the Sri Lankans. Those memories, those lessons will come in extremely handy.

#3 Unknown territory

The MCG provides an enormous challenge to the New Zealand players

New Zealand havent played much at the MCG in the last few years. More importantly, all their games at this World Cup have been played in New Zealand. It is probably one of New Zealands biggest weaknesses in the final. Their batsmen suddenly have to get used to and adapt to a much bigger ground. Their fours will now be 2s or even 1s, their sixes might end up being catches for the fielders in the deep.

It is a big transition when you have to adjust and fine-tune your batting strokeplay on the eve of a big game. Both the batsmen and bowlers have to adjust to the pitch as well, which will be harder, bouncier and faster than what any of the New Zealand pitches have been. Chasing is nowhere near as easy at the MCG under lights as it was in New Zealand owing to the colossal ground.

McCullum, in particular, has to be careful not to hole out early in the deep as that can deflate the rest of his team. Australia will know the MCG like a kindergarten rhyme, having played their all their lives. After India, Australia will be the second team to be playing a final on their home ground and that is a huge advantage.

#4 Support bowling

The likes of Corey Anderson will have to step up with the ball

New Zealand has a genuine all-rounder in Corey Anderson, probably a contender for Man of the Tournament. He has a golden arm and he picks wickets regularly. He has 14 wickets to go with his 231 runs. However, he bowls at an economy rate of 6.45 which is expensive even by the standards of a high-scoring World Cup. He leaked a few against South Africa after AB de Villiers was dropped off his bowling.

He is a young man with a lot of potential, but with not too many backups in the bowling department, New Zealand could suffer if Anderson is attacked early. Matt Henry was impressive playing his first game in the World Cup against South Africa in the semi-finals.

However, he is inexperienced and could be taken apart by astute in-form batsmen like Steven Smith and Michael Clarke, along with the finishers in Glenn Maxwell and Shane Watson. Grant Elliott is the other option for New Zealand to bowl a few seam-up overs. Australia can target those 20 overs (Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Daniel Vettori to bowl 30) and that could really hurt.

#5 Brittle batting in run chases

The New Zealand middle order has shown susceptibility in run chases

New Zealand have come this far in the finals because of a spirit that refuses to lose. It is admirable how they have found a hero each time they were in jail. Kane Williamson rescued them against Australia during a pool game. Martin Guptill was the backbone for their win against Bangladesh, which ended up being a close chase. Grant Elliott and Corey Anderson proved to be the heroes against South Africa, with the former staying not out till the end.

However, each time there is also a pattern that can work in Australias favour. None of the partnerships are ruthless. New Zealand lose wickets at crucial intervals, exactly on the verge of stamping their authority and hurling the opponent out of the game. Luke Ronchi is yet to play an important hand in a game. Mitchell Starc has already run through the New Zealand batting once and he could do it again.

Ross Taylor, in spite of his decent contributions, is just a shadow of what he could be. Against a high-quality Australian bowling attack, the brittle batting line-up must step up for New Zealand to win. Australia could exploit the fact that McCullum is well and truly the engine and the team relies on him providing brilliant starts at the top with Guptill playing an anchoring role. If that doesnt come off, there could be some real pressure on the middle order, which although impressive can come undone in a big game.