Can Kiwis finally get one over big brother?

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THE World Cup final will be like a game of backyard cricket between two brothers - and there lies the challenge for New Zealand.

You know how it works. The little brother can fox, dance, sledge and conjure but somehow the big brother just always seems to be the one with the smile and the raised arms at the end of the day.

He knows how to win because he normally does.

Mitchell Johnson will be out to back up his great work from Sydney in Melbourne. Source: News Corp Australia

He stays calm under pressure because, in the direst moments, he is reassured the pecking order will eventually hold sway.

If any Kiwi team can challenge the flow it is this one.

They have power, poise, clever swing bowlers and a masterful spinner.

They field like demons and they bat right down the order. They are good enough to turn history on its ear.

But it won't be easy.

Australia have generally had New Zealand's number since Bill Brown led the Baggy Greens out the first Test against the Kiwis just after the World War II.

Can Brendon McCullum bring the World Cup title back to New Zealand? Source: AP

The Kiwis had a brief period of domination in the mid-1980s when they had Richard Hadlee but the overall numbers are not pretty.

Australia lead the Test series count 12-3 and the one-day series ledger 8-2.

Australia are long-time World Cup powerhouses. Just the sight of them intimidates opponents.

There were times when the Kiwis have almost admired Australia too much for their own good.

The much-loved Kiwi opener John Wright used to love having a beer with the Australians and made no secret of his affection for them.

To the point where sometimes when he would say "honestly, I just love you blokes'' they would reply, in total seriousness, "stop it Wrighty ... we are playing each other tomorrow.''

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For lengthy periods in its cricket history Australia looked down its nose at New Zealand.

After that first Test between the two nations after the war, which was not even given Test status at the time, Australia went another 26 years before granting the Kiwis another Test series.

During that time the Kiwis played 11 series against England but Australia simply felt they were not worth the effort and stubbornly refused to play them.

This Cup final means a lot to both nations but it means more to New Zealand.

They do not have the depth of talent that Australia possesses so they need all sorts of planets to align to become the world class force they are at the moment.

It is likely the two teams who take the field on Sunday will never play as one again.

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There will be retirements and changes almost instantly.

It seemingly has to be harder for New Zealand on Sunday because they have never won the Cup where Australia has done so four times.

The Australian players grew up watching their country raise World Cups.

Also the Kiwis, for the first time this tournament, will be playing outside their homeland.

The jury is out on whether that will be good or bad for them.

It might just prove a bonus for them that they can escape the hysteria of their homeland and enter a city where instant superstar Grant Elliott would be less known than some recently drafted AFL rookies.

The World Cup has the punchline it has craves and one the game deserves.

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