A New Zealand victory would be the perfect outcome for the team that has lifted the spirits and created the expectation of a nation – a nation conditioned to All Black triumphs, not Cricket World Cups.

Trans Tasman cricket has evaporated under the commercial avalanche of Ashes and Indian contests.

• Michael Clarke retires from ODIs
• Hoggy: let’s go back to the scene of the crime
• Clarke: trans-Tasman final “extremely special”
• India came and saw, but Australia conquered 
• Aussies advance to World Cup final
• Video: Reporter probes Clarke’s sex life

Blame the schedule, the administrators, the perception that NZ don’t pull at the box office.

So here is an occasion that celebrates a traditional and respected rivalry, with some massive bragging rights to the winners.

Dave Warner might have something special up his sleeve. Photo: Getty

Michael Clarke’s well timed exit from one day cricket gives more motivation to a team that has improved as steadily as Makybe Diva did to claim three Melbourne Cups.

The potency of Australia’s long batting order and the gunslinging Mitches threaten the Black Caps’ ability to last the distance of a fifty over game.

Maybe T20 where there’s less chance of recovery, but in the long short form of the game NZ need key players like McCullum, Guptill, Wiiliamson and Taylor to bat beyond cameos into substance, ideally 300 plus if they get to bat first.

Watch their running between wickets, an area of uncertainty that gives sharp fielding an incentive to pounce.

I doubt if the white balls will swing much on a sunny day and on a concrete white pitch, so Boult and Southee need early strikes and more guile from the everlasting Vettori to repeat their Eden Park demolition of Australa’s top order.

One of the gamebreakers from Warner, Smith, Watson and Maxwell are destined to produce an innings of substance on the MCG home paddock.

Clarke can play a guiding hand and his calm leadership ensures that Australia generally controls the game.

Haddin and Johnson provide sting in the tail that normally guarantees a powerful last ten overs.

Surmise, speculate, appreciate….here’s to a contest that will be memorable.