- Warm up for the final with our retro cricket trading cards quiz
- Australia's semi-final win over India: As it happened
- Who will win the World Cup final?
- Who has been the player of the tournament?
- What has been the best moment of the World Cup?
- Who has been the best batsman?
- Who has been the best bowler?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The greatest player New Zealand has ever produced, Richard Hadlee, says the Black Caps winning on Sunday would be the equal of the All Blacks' success in the rugby World Cup as the country's finest moment in sport.
Cricket is a secondary sport in the rugby-mad nation but the NZ public have been captivated by the aggression and success of Brendon McCullum's Black Caps, whom Hadlee rates as the best side the country has ever produced for a World Cup.
Hadlee, a board member of NZ Cricket, said the Black Caps, who have reached their first final after six losing semi-finals, had what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to become sporting immortals in the Shaky Isles.
"It doesn't matter if it's Australia, England, India, they're in it for the first time, they have an opportunity to create history in our game, which means they will never ever be forgotten," Hadlee said.
"It's like the rugby when they won it in '87, they've won it twice, we're yet to do it. You look at the America's Cup, great moment in our sporting history, win the cricket World Cup and it'll be right up there with our greatest ever achievements.
"We've had 40 years of World Cup cricket and to finally get across the line if we do is part of our cricketing history.
"Being a board member and involved with NZ cricket for a long time, it'd be one of the great moments, very, very special and something I'd love to see in my time."
Their hopes for success will hinge largely on the verve and swerve of swingmen Trent Boult and Tim Southee proving more potent than the speed and aggression of Australia's express-paced trio.
Graphic