![Cricket World Cup](http://web.archive.org./web/20150329235503im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2015/02/13/6257679/cricket-world-cup-banner.jpg)
Ducks and a dux as Australia triumph
Greg Baum 1:50 AM The World Cup final was over almost the instant it began.
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Five memorable moments from the final
![Australia's Mitchell Starc.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/m/r/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1maofh.11a5ra.png/1427667709572.jpg)
Scott Spits 8:47 AM The five unforgettable moments or incidents of the World Cup final.
Clarke passes baton on final triumphant note
![Local heroes: Michael Clarke and Steve Smith arm in arm after guiding Australia to victory.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/l/t/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1maiwj.11a5ra.png/1427666449424.jpg)
Malcolm Knox 11:04 PM In Michael Clarke and Steven Smith, two generations of Australian cricket steered their team through the final leg of their long trek to a fifth World Cup.
Australia's win cements standing
![Lone hand: New Zealand's Grant Elliott walks off the field after being dismissed for 83 runs during the Cricket World Cup final against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/i/g/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1maijw.11a5ra.png/1427666449424.jpg)
Jesse Hogan 11:46 PM Australia overwhelms New Zealand on the biggest stage. winning a fifth World Cup title by seven wickets.
Starc blows McCullum's house down
![Early advantage: Mitchell Starc celebrates the crucial wicket of Brendon McCullum.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/j/c/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1maf1a.11a5ra.png/1427666449424.jpg)
Andrew Wu 1:00 AM It is not in Brendon McCullum's DNA to defend. He believes there is no such thing as too much aggression, that it would have been silly to change his style this late.
Captain Clarke did not see any send-offs
![Brad Haddin celebrates the wicket of Martin Guptill.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/n/3/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1mampu.11a5ra.png/1427666449424.jpg)
Jesse Hogan 8:03 AM Michael Clarke believes none of his players overstepped the mark with their treatment of dismissed New Zealand batsmen in Sunday's World Cup victory at the MCG.
Old hands have some time left: Starc
![Mitchell Starc (right) says the senior Australian players , including Mitchell Johnson (left) still have plenty to give.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/o/h/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1maoff.11a5ra.png/1427666449424.jpg)
8:29 AM Mitchell Starc will spearhead Australia's bid for back-to-back World Cup titles in 2019.
The Cup finally runneth over
![Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara waves to the crowd as he leaves the field after the quarter-final against South Africa.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/k/4/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1mabfw.11a5ra.png/1427666449424.jpg)
Peter Hanlon 7:47 PM It went on and on, but there was plenty to like in cricket's one-day championships
Bowlers won WC for Australia, Clarke says
![Australia's Mitchell Starc claims the scalp of New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum during the World Cup final on Sunday.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/m/r/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1mamor.11a5ra.png/1427666501050.jpg)
Jesse Hogan 1:54 AM One-day cricket is primarily dominated by bat, but departing Australia captain Michael Clarke says it's thanks to his bowlers that he is ending his one-day career as part of a World Cup-winning team.
Australia dedicate Cup success to Hughes
![To the heavens: Michael Clarke looks up as he walks off the field following his dismissal against New Zealand.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/m/m/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1mamix.11a5ra.png/1427666449424.jpg)
Andrew Wu 12:52 AM The spirit of Phillip Hughes lives on in the Australian dressing room four months after his death as Michael Clarke dedicated Australia's World Cup triumph to their fallen friend.
Fairfax writers select their World Cup XIs
![The MCG after the final.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/m/7/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1mam68.11a5ra.png/1427666449424.jpg)
11:02 PM Fairfax cricket writers pick their teams of the World Cup.
Latest cricket news
Live ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Australia v New Zealand
![Australia's Mitchell Starc.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/b/h/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1ma5od.png/1427670816011.jpg)
Ronny Lerner 10:13 AM The tournament's co-hosts line-up for arguably the biggest one-day international ever seen on Australian soil.
Now retired from ODIs, Clarke to ponder BBL move
![The Australian team form a guard of honour for Michael Clarke as he leaves the field after Sunday's World Cup final at the MCG.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/m/s/h/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1mamq9.png/1427641457491.jpg)
Jesse Hogan 2:04 AM Michael Clarke says he will savour Australia's World Cup success before deciding whether he will play in the Big Bash League and other Twenty20 competitions following his retirement.
Clarke passes baton on final triumphant note
![Local heroes: Michael Clarke and Steve Smith arm in arm after guiding Australia to victory.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/l/t/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1malsh.png/1427629011091.jpg)
Malcolm Knox 9:53 PM In Michael Clarke and Steven Smith, two generations of Australian cricket steered their team through the final leg of their long trek to a fifth World Cup. The outgoing captain and the incoming; the elder who has battled his health all summer to get in, and the younger who has been almost impossible to get out.
Fans soak up the sun as World Cup cricket final heats up
![It was a friendly rivalry between Australian and New Zealand fans.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/c/9/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1macbo.png/1427619167482.jpg)
Andrew Wu and Alana Schetzer 7:52 PM Melbourne turned on stunning, sunny weather with more than 100,000 packing the MCG and the Yarra banks to watch the Cricket World Cup final
New Zealand have come a long way in two years
![Disappointing end: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum walks off the field after being bowled for a duck by Australia's Mitchell Starc in the World Cup final.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/i/5/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1ma9r2.png/1427612747903.jpg)
Fred Woodcock 6:05 PM New Zealand’s rock bottom came on January 2, 2013, soon after Brendon McCullum had controversially taken over as skipper from Ross Taylor.
Sutherland hopes for quicker World Cup
![James Sutherland.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/2/h/b/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1mae9p.png/1427607229844.jpg)
4:33 PM Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland says that cutting four teams from the World Cup should help satisfy fans' calls for a more condensed tournament.
World Cup 2015: Australian cricketers up for $340K pay day if victorious
![Australia's Shane Watson (R) and Mitchell Johnson .](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/6/l/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1ma5xo.png/1427598239784.jpg)
Luke Malpass 2:03 PM It will be bonuses all around should the Australian cricket team beat the Kiwis at the MCG on Sunday night: the players will be in for an almost $340,000 pay day.
What you need to know about the final between Australia and New Zealand
![Trump card: Mitchell Starc of Australia may prove the difference between the two teams.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/5/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1ma60e.png/1427600425807.jpg)
Stephen Samuelson 1:31 PM Everything you need to know about the Cricket World Cup final but were afraid - or didn't think - to ask.
Warner tipped to upstage McCullum
![Countdown to the final: David Warner gets a ride from Mitch Marsh during an Australian nets session.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/9/z/1/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9z0a.png/1427550260667.jpg)
Jesse Hogan David Warner has been backed to emerge from the shadows created by Brendon McCullum's dazzling form and show he, not the New Zealand captain, is the pivotal batsman of the World Cup final.
Vettori and Crowe inspire Black Caps
![Eyes on the prize: Captains Michael Clarke and Brendon McCullum.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/9/w/9/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9w1h.png/1427549532903.jpg)
Jesse Hogan New Zealand players will go into Sunday's World Cup final inspired by two Black Caps greats: one, Daniel Vettori, probably playing the last match of his international career; the other, terminally ill Martin Crowe, possibly watching the last match of his life.
Clarke to retire from ODIs after final
![Quitting one-dayers: Michael Clarke.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/7/r/1/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9v2u.png/1427549496789.jpg)
Jesse Hogan Michael Clarke says his announcement he will retire from one-day cricket after Sunday's World Cup final will not be an added source of motivation for him and his teammates to beat New Zealand.
World Cup a brilliant showcase
![The last thing this form of cricket needs is to jeopardise the impact of its one meaningful event.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/0/1/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9vsl.png/1427528331793.jpg)
Tim Lane The final day of the 11th ICC World Cup is here and it can safely be said a verdict of good health and relevance has been delivered on cricket’s biggest single event.
Cricket's 'cousins' battle for the cup
![Longing for victory: Captains Brendon McCullum of New Zealand and Michael Clarke of Australia.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/a/1/k/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9wmc.png/1427578616947.jpg)
Greg Baum The World Cup was a global affair with many weighty geopolitical overtones, but the final will be between kissing cousins.
NZ unchanged for World Cup final
![The New Zealand team huddle together on the MCG during a nets session.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/9/p/k/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9usr.png/1427546285655.jpg)
New Zealand will bring an unchanged lineup into Sunday's World Cup final against fellow co-hosts Australia in Melbourne, captain Brendon McCullum confirmed on Saturday.
How much will it cost to get to the Cricket World Cup on Sunday?
![Australia will take on New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup grand final on Sunday.](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/8/s/w/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9vuo.png/1427546263039.jpg)
Patrick Hatch It's not too late to see Australia and New Zealand slog it out in the Cricket World Cup final on Sunday. It'll just cost you a small fortune.
High-voltage showdown looms in World Cup final
![MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 28: Brendon McCullum of New Zealand speaks to the media during a New Zealand nets session at Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 28, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)](/web/20150329235503im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/9/x/o/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1m9w1j.png/1427545992694.jpg)
Andrew Wu Australia's standing as the world's best one-day team is on the line against a bold New Zealand side which has vowed to maintain the high voltage style which has taken them to within one victory of a fairytale World Cup triumph.