- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE cricketing fraternity is set to witness a new world champion in the T20 format on Sunday (14) when trans-Tasman rivals Australia and New Zealand will lock horns for the crown in the final of the T20 World Cup in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. While Australia are playing their second finals and were beaten by England on the previous occasion in 2010, New Zealand have made their first-ever world cup final in the shortest format.
Kane Williamson’s side, however, is eyeing its second global crown in a single year after the World Test Championship that they won in June crushing India. Two years ago, the Kiwis also made the final of the 50-over World Cup in England but lost closely to the hosts in the title clash.
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New Zealand avenged the 2019 final defeat in the semi-final of the current tournament when they beat England by five wickets, thanks to some superb batting display. Australia also produced a similar show with the bat to beat a spirited Pakistan in the other semi-final by five wickets.
Australia shock Pakistan in T20 World Cup semi-final
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said the Black Caps are excited to take on the Australian challenge in the final.
“That’s probably a final that I’m not sure too many people would have predicted a month or so ago, Australia and New Zealand,” he was quoted as saying by AFP.
Sunday’s final will also revive the memories of the 2015 World Cup which was jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand and both the hosts made the final. New Zealand, who were led by Brendan McCullum in that tournament, lost the final by seven wickets.
Stead was in no mood to take Australia lightly ahead of Sunday’s final and said the Kangaroos got in their ranks some “real match-winners”.
James Neesham, who played a key part in the Kiwis’ semi-final win over England, told AFP, “I am sure there will be a bigger outpour of emotion if we manage to get across the line.”
The Kiwis, however, suffered an injury blow after wicket-keeper-batter Devon Conway was ruled out after he had a broken hand by punching his bat following his dismissal in the semi-final.
Australia are also desperate to win their first T20 World Cup and it was evident in the words of their all-rounder Marcus Stoinis who made a key partnership with Matthew Wade in the semi-final against Pakistan.
He said a T20 World Cup title will “mean a bloody lot to us”, AFP reported.
“Obviously Test cricket and the Ashes, that’s what we grew up when we played. Then the transformation of T20 cricket. It’s not a hit and a giggle anymore in terms of the pressure,” he said.
“I don’t think many people gave us a chance leading into this tournament apart from the players and coaching staff. So it’s definitely going to mean a bloody lot to us and we will be super proud when we bring that home to Australia,” he added.
Australia, who are being led by Aaron Finch, have won the 50-over World Cup five times, more than anybody else, and have dominated in Test cricket for a long time.
Their coach Justin Langer said, “We have got such a rich history and it’ll be nice to add this piece to the puzzle.”
He also lauded New Zealand for their brand of cricket and said Australia will have to play their best to win the title.
Both Australia and New Zealand have lost only one game in the tournament. Head-to-head in the T20 format, Australia lead New Zealand 9-5 and the last time they met in a T20 game was in Wellington in March this year.
