ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Australia-New Zealand combined XI

Australia and New Zealand will renew their Trans-Tasman rivalry when the tournament’s two best teams take part in Sunday’s World Cup Final in front of a sell-out MCG crowd. With both sides being blessed with an embarrassment of riches in all departments, coming up with a combined XI featuring the very best from both sides is no easy task. The likes of Brendon McCullum, Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult are certainties, but how will the rest of the side line up?Here is how a combined XI from both sides would look like.(Note: Only performances from this World Cup have been taken into account for the combined XI)

#1 Martin Guptill

Before the World Cup, every Kiwi fan was worried about Martin Guptill. The right-hander's form had been patchy and if the Black Caps were to have any chance of going far in their home tournament, they needed him to be more consistent. And the 28-year-old has duly obliged. His performances in the group stages were steady and consistent until the final game against Bangladesh when he notched up a century.

He followed that by making the highest score in World Cup history in the quarter-finals against the West Indies. Often overshadowed by his more belligerent opening partner, Brendon McCullum, Guptill is now just nine runs away from finishing as the tournament's leading run-scorer and has arguably been New Zealand's best batsman, something not many would have predicted.

#2 Brendon McCullum

In this World Cup, there have been few captains who have impressed more than Brendon McCullum. The 33-year-old's attacking field placements and bowling changes have helped the Kiwis reach their first World Cup final. But while everybody has been praising McCullum the captain, McCullum’s importance to the side as a batsman should not be underestimated. The right-hander has been brash, brutal but brilliant to watch.

Although his tendency to take the bowlers to the cleaners doesn't always pay dividends, his four fifties show that it does more often than not. His attacking batting has got the Kiwis off to a flyer in almost every game and set up the platform for the other batsmen to take their time to settle in. His tournament strike rate of 191.81 is simply staggering, and only Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers have hit more sixes than the Kiwi skipper.

#3 Steven Smith

Steven Smith is Australia's leading run-scorer in the tournament and nobody has scored more fifties than the 25-year-old. Right now, he is in one of those purple patches that looks like it is never going to come to an end. The consistency of his performance, coupled with his ability to keep busy when at the crease, makes him a nightmare for any bowler.

The Sydney-born 25-year-old guided his side to the final for the seventh time in their illustrious history with a wonderfully compiled century against India. After a slow start, Smith will be looking to make it five consecutive fifties in the tournament when he takes on the Kiwis at the MCG on Sunday.

#4 Glenn Maxwell

Anybody who has seen Glenn Maxwell play will tell you that he has the potential to be one of the best batsmen in the world. Perhaps even the heir-apparent to a certain AB de Villiers. But one problem he has always had is converting that enormous talent into consistent performances, as his middling ODI average of 35.05 illustrates.

But the right-hander seems to have come of age in this tournament. His 324 runs have come at an average of 64 and a phenomenal strike rate of over 180. Apart from Smith, he has been the only other consistent performer for the Aussies, who will be hoping that he can continue his good run with the bat for one final game.

#5 Grant Elliott

When New Zealand’s 15-man World Cup squad was announced, the presence of Grant Elliott caused considerable unrest amongst the Kiwi faithful. Questions were asked about why a player who hadn't played for New Zealand at all in 2014 was suddenly included ahead of a promising talent like James Neesham.

But Elliott has gradually proven his worth in the side as a solid middle-order batsman who can also contribute with the ball. After a scratchy, if not spectacular, start to his World Cup, Elliott saw his side through in a crunch semi-final encounter against the Proteas. The composure that the 36-year-old showed in marshalling the run chase vindicated the selectors’ decision. The South African-born batsman will walk into the MCG on Sunday having proven his doubters wrong and transformed himself into a national hero.

#6 Corey Anderson

Corey Anderson may not be the best batsman or bowler in the tournament, but the 24-year-old has certainly proven that he is the best all-rounder. He is New Zealand's third-highest run scorer so far and his tally of 14 wickets is just one behind front-line bowlers Tim Southee and Daniel Vettori.

Whether it is coming in late and providing the finishing touch to an innings, building an innings in the middle overs or coming into bowl when the captain is in dire need of wickets, he has always done a job for the team. For all the talk of Trent Boult or Martin Guptill getting the player of the tournament award, Anderson's all-round performances surely merit a mention, if not the prize itself.

#7 Brad Haddin

At 37, the fact that Brad Haddin is still a regular feature in the Australian side is an achievement in itself. But the fact that he is ahead of so many talented young wicketkeepers is something that is a bone of contention down under.

In this tournament at least, Haddin has done more than enough to justify his place in the side. His 13 dismissals, only bettered by MS Dhoni, have been crucial. So have his runs lower down the order. Although he doesn't have a fifty to his name yet, his ability to provide a late flourish with a strike rate in excess of 150 has been enough so far.

#8 Daniel Vettori

Sentiment and not logic. Many thought the idea of a home World Cup to send off one of New Zealand's greatest bowlers was the reason behind Daniel Vettori's inclusion in the squad. But the left-arm spinner has shown that even at 36, he is still an integral part of the side.

Whether it is picking up wickets early on, containing the batsmen in the middle overs or picking up stunning catches, or even being there at the end in a run-chase when his side needs him most, Vettori has done it all. His 15 wickets have come at an average of just 18 and an economy rate of under 4. And if the Kiwis do go on to win the tournament, it will be the perfect send-off to one of the greatest spinners of the modern era.

#9 Mitchell Starc

The pre-World Cup talk was all about a Mitchell who was going to terrorise batsmen with his pace. But to the surprise of many people, it has been Starc rather than Johnson who has been spearheading the Australian attack. With 20 wickets to his name, the left-arm fast bowler has not only been the pick of the bowlers in the tournament but has also earned comparisons to the legendary Wasim Akram.

The 25-year-old's ability to swing the ball both ways, bowl in-swinging yorkers and effective bouncers, all at over 150 kmph, has made him a nightmare for batsmen to deal with, even on flat wickets that seemingly have no assistance for the bowlers.

#10 Tim Southee

On his day, there are few better opening bowlers than Tim Southee, with his pace and movement off the seam. While some bowlers struggle during the final overs and in power plays, the 26-year-old's vast arsenal of attacking options means that he is equally effective at both the start and the end of an innings.

Although his performances have tailed off slightly after the first couple of weeks, he is still the Kiwis' second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 15 scalps. In front of a sell-out crowd on Sunday, the Black Caps will look to their strike bowler to lead the way, as they go in search of their first World Cup.

#11 Trent Boult

Having played just 16 ODIs prior to the start of the World Cup, to many Trent Boult was certainly a surprise pick. While he was undoubtedly a very good Test bowler, there were question marks about whether he can transfer that into ODIs. 21 wickets in eight matches at an average of just 15 and economy rate of 4.4 is proof that he certainly can.

Ever since the five-wicket haul against Australia in the group stage, Boult has been on fire and his ability to swing the ball at pace has caused the batsmen all sorts of problems. The 25-year-old left-arm pacer has already picked up more wickets in this World Cup than he did in his entire ODI career previously and to finish as the tournament's leading wicket-taker would be a fitting end to a splendid tournament.