Mitchell Starc bowled the first ball of the game and looked relieved to have the delivery zip through to Brad Haddin at good pace. His first ball to Brendan McCullum swung back into the Kiwi captain, nearly snagging the off stump.
Starc’s fourth delivery removed McCullum for a third-ball duck after the ball crashed into the off stump at 145 km/h. McCullum seemed to misjudge the length of the delivery and walked off the oval with his head down.
“I think he was beaten by pace more than anything,” remarked commentator Mark Taylor.
The first over finished at 1/1 for Starc who had the perfect start to his World Cup final. Josh Hazlewood was unable to match the fire of Starc and was uncharacteristically inaccurate in his opening over. The young New South Welshman recovered to produce the reliable line and shape that Australia has come to expect.
Starc had the ball whizzing past the edge of the bat and the grill in his first spell. A Guptil top edge that went for six gave good indication as to the pace Starc was bowling with along with the bounce in the wicket.
In the last ball of his third over, Starc nearly had Guptill caught at point. The ball was edged, but done so with a powerful swing, seeing the chance go over the head and just out of reach from a diving Steve Smith.
Starc starred in Australia’s last match against the Kiwis with an impressive 6/28 that nearly stole the game out from under the Black Caps.
The New Zealand batsmen looked concerned during the opening bowling spells. Hazlewood beat the outside edge a number of times and was backed up by some excellent, athletic fielding inside the circle. While Mitchell Starc launched several short deliveries, mixing up his length to keep the Kiwis on the back foot.
Mitchell Johnson backed up his opening bowlers with an excellent first two overs. Cranking it up around the 150 km/h mark. Johnson was unlucky to not grab an edge on several occasions as he mixed his line and length.
Kane Williamson was 12 (31) after 11 overs, while Martin Guptill hit a patient 15 (32). Both batsmen seemed resolute to not give away their wickets, even in the face of a dying run rate.
7.70 runs per over is the average New Zealand have achieved in their opening 10 overs. Australia have restricted them to a run rate of 3.1 in the opening 10 overs at the MCG.
Glenn Maxwell was surprisingly introduced in the 12th over and struck immediately as Guptill went for a short delivery and completely missed. The ball hit the top of off and saw New Zealand struggling early at 2/33.
Mitchell Johnson followed suit, stealing Kane Williamson’s glory after the batsman spooned a leading edge back on 12 (33). 3/39 has the Australian’s in a commanding position with New Zealand in desperate need of a big partnership.
Mitchell Starc finished the innings with an impressive 2/20 from 8 overs. James Faulkner nabbed 3 along with Mitchell Johnson as the Aussies electric fielding helped heap the pressure on the batsmen.
