­Regin of might

Australia had always looked the team most likely to win World Cup 2015. That they did – in convincing style and with considerable ease, beating New Zealand by seven wickets in an all-Antipodean final. New Zealand’s total of 183, reached with much angst after they chose to bat first, was never going to be enough. Australia reached it in the 34th over. New Zealand’s agony was summed up by the last wicket run out as Tim Southee was caught out of his crease with another of the typically Australian brilliance on the field displayed by Glenn Maxwell. For the Kiwis who were hoping to win their first ever world cup, this was never their day. Their innings began badly and even a later recovery was not enough to put up a big total that may have thwarted the Aussies. The Aussies at the start of the innings looked fallible, collapsing at one point to 1 for 2. But in the style of true champions, they recovered and fittingly enough captain Michael Clarke, who has led with excellence throughout the tournament played a key role in this recovery, hitting the 72 runs that played a key part in taking his country to a certain success.
This has also given Australia their fifth ever world cup win, making them the country that has lifted the trophy most often. Remarkably, they have also done so in all the continents where the world cup has been played. This alone signifies their supremacy over the game over much of the last two decades, notably after the West Indies went into a lasting slump beginning at the end of the 1980s. For Clarke, this is to be his final ODI. He has gone out in style. The Australians had thrilled their fans at home. They have also won others from around the world. Regardless of national loyalties, one cannot help but admire the simple professionalism of a classy Australian side which depends on team play as often as individual genius. As always, the Australians play tough, but then they also produce some of the best cricket there is to see. Their spectacular fielding was an eye-opener at the World Cup and we can say as the 2015 contest comes to an end that the most deserving side has won. The Kiwis will of course be disappointed. But the reality is that on this day the All Blacks were outclassed. And in a cricket final, the performance on that one day is all that matters. Australia was able to lift theirs to the heights required on the occasion and their right to celebrate is very real.