Five key T20 World Cup final match-ups as trans-Tasman rivals go toe-to-toe
When the teams met at the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup final, Mitchell Starc put New Zealand on the canvas in the first over, thanks to a devastating yorker to remove Brendon McCullum for a duck. Unable to recover from the early blow, New Zealand limped to 183, and were run down by Michael Clarke’s Australia inside 34 overs.
Albeit in a different format, New Zealand and Australia meet in another tournament final six years on, with their bowling attacks again led by exponents of left-arm new ball bowling.
Given the work of Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell up front for the Black Caps, Starc must ask early questions through his speed and movement in the air.
On the other side, Boult may fancy his chances against Australia's opening pair. Aaron Finch was undone fellow left-armer Shaheen Afridi early in Australia’s semi-final chase, while the two bowlers to dismiss Warner three times in T20Is are also southpaws: Mohammad Amir and David Willey.
Exposing Mitchell Marsh and Australia's middle order to the swinging ball in a desperate batting re-build may just open the door for a Black Caps win.
Final: Australia v New Zealand | Match Preview | T20 World Cup
Haemorrhaging runs in the backend of their bowling innings, critics of Australia's campaign have bemoaned the failed death over plans. Thankfully for Finch and his team, the weakness has not cost them their campaign, chasing down whatever has been set in front of them.
For Australia, the last four overs with the ball have seen a troublesome trend. Conceding 54 runs to Pakistan, 48 against the West Indies and 43 against Sri Lanka, Australia's batters have stepped up in reply, chasing down the targets set by all three opponents.
Up against arguably the strongest bowling attack at the tournament, Australia may not have the same luxury in Sunday's final.
New Zealand show little chance of Australian bowling respite, with their awe-inspiring chase against England in their semi-final highlighting their credentials.
Needing 60 to win from 30 deliveries, Jimmy Neesham and Daryl Mitchell were imposing. Batting all the way through the chase, Mitchell finished unbeaten on 72 from 47 balls, with Neesham bludgeoning 27 from 11 balls with three sixes, as the Black Caps chased down England's total with an over to spare.
Australia's semi-final heroics | T20 World Cup
In a match that could be decided by a run here and there, the men behind the stumps are sure to play key roles.
Following the loss of Devon Conway, Tim Seifert will likely take the gloves, assuming Glenn Phillips isn't given the role.
Making eight runs off as many balls against Pakistan in his only appearance at the tournament, Seifert will need to step up behind the stumps and with the bat, with his opposite number Matthew Wade coming off a jaw-dropping individual performance against Pakistan.
Launching three consecutive sixes off Shaheen Afridi to complete Australia’s run chase, Wade drew from a decade of T20 experience, finishing with 41 not out from 17 balls in a partnership of 81 from 41 with Marcus Stoinis.
The heroes of New Zealand at the T20 World Cup
New Zealand have lost just four wickets to leg-spin across 20 overs at the tournament, winning their semi-final victory over England in spite of three scalps between eight overs of Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone.
Negotiating Rashid Khan in a victory over Afghanistan (1/27 off four overs), the Black Caps have brushed off wrist-spin with control, doing so at a run rate of 7.85.
At the other end on Sunday stands Australia’s Adam Zampa.
A thorn in the side for batting line-ups on the other side of the draw, and the bowler to claim Babar Azam in Australia’s semi-final victory over Pakistan, Zampa (12 wickets) is only bettered by Wanindu Hasaranga (16) for most wickets at the tournament.
It sets up a fascinating battle as the teams battle for their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophy.
Australia's heroes of the T20 World Cup
Maxwell is a world class operator with the bat, though Australia has benefitted more from his off-spin, keeping things tight with an economy of 6.54 as Finch's fifth bowler.
Averaging 29.42 and striking at 157.25 with the bat against the Black Caps in T20I cricket, the stars could align for an all-time individual display, should the all-rounder click into gear.
On the other side, Jimmy Neesham has done everything his country has asked of him.
With his side needing backend brute hitting, Neesham has delivered in spades. Striking at 173.80, the left-handed batter has struck 73 runs across four quick-fire innings, exhibiting the rare, sought-after skillset in delivering late lusty blows.
Bowling 10 overs across four bowling stints, Neesham has been equally reliable in the field, conceding just 6.6 runs per over to keep things tight.
Given their multi-faceted games, both players could pop up at almost any time to wrangle things in their teams favour.