World Cup final head-to-head

By Mark Mitchener

With Australia and Sri Lanka preparing for Saturday's World Cup Final, BBC Sport examines the likely team line-ups - and rates each player head-to-head.

CAPTAIN

Ricky Ponting has averaged 71 with the bat at number three although he has been overshadowed at times by his team-mates, notably Matthew Hayden. With the wealth of talent at his disposal, his captaincy skills have been barely tested as Australia have cruised past most opponents - but that may change if Sri Lanka's top order get going against his bowling attack.

Mahela Jayawardene plundered an impressive century in Sri Lanka's demolition of New Zealand in the semi-final to go with four fifties from previous games. He marshalled his bowlers well enough to the extent that Malinga's absence through injury for a spell during the Super 8s was hardly noticed.

VERDICT: Australia. Ponting has the edge, and his side have the momentum.

WICKET-KEEPER

Adam Gilchrist is better known in one-day cricket for his explosive batting at the top of the order than for his competent wicket-keeping. By his own high standards, he may be disappointed after making just two fifties from 10 World Cup innings, with a top score of 59 not out. However, he is very much a man for the big occasion, and remains an ideal foil for opening partner Hayden.

Like Gilchrist, Kumar Sangakkara not only keeps wicket but bats in the top order, normally at number three. He averages 32.88 for the tournament - less than one run behind Gilchrist's 33.77 - although his strike rate is well behind the Australian's. A relentlessly upbeat presence behind the stumps, he has 11 catches and four stumpings so far.

VERDICT: Too close to call. Both are able keepers capable of explosive batting.

TOP ORDER

A match-winning innings by Matthew Hayden in the final would surely see him crowned as player of the tournament. He was dropped from the Australia one-day side less than two years ago after a poor 2005 in England but after a year on the sidelines, he took his chance with both hands when Shane Watson was injured last October and has set the tone at the top of the order with some powerful displays. The figures tell it all - 621 runs from nine innings at an average of nearly 78 with a strike rate of 104, and three centuries. Awesome.

Michael Clarke has had the luxury of coming in at number four behind arguably the best top-three combination in the world (Gilchrist, Hayden and Ponting). But the man once dubbed "Pup" by his team-mates has played some mature innings, including four half-centuries. While his average of 85.60 may have been slightly flattered by three not-outs, he is also a lively presence in the field and his slow left-arm spin provides a useful alternative option for Ponting.

Sanath Jayasuriya arguably redefined one-day international cricket when Sri Lanka triumphed at the 1996 World Cup by using the opening overs under fielding restrictions as a time to attack rather than defend. The veteran opener has continued to thrill the crowds, hitting centuries against Bangladesh and West Indies, and remains a potent threat which Ponting will look to snuff out early. His value to the side is enhanced by his slow left-arm "darts" which often play a key role in tying down opponents in the middle overs.

Upul Tharanga's role as Jayasuriya's opening partner means he often has to play a supporting role while his partner attacks during the early powerplays, or hang around to rebuild the innings if Jayasuriya falls early. He did the latter superbly well against New Zealand in the semi-final, makeing 73 off 74 balls. But although he has averaged just 29 at this tournament, the management clearly see enough in him to have kept former skipper Marvan Atapattu carrying the drinks for the entire World Cup.

VERDICT: Australia - but don't underestimate Jayasuriya if he gets going.

MIDDLE ORDER

Andrew Symonds' participation in the World Cup was in doubt after he tore a bicep muscle during the CB Series against England. But after missing the first two group matches, the all-rounder has continued to impress with some powerful hitting, although Australia are often close to winning the match by the time he arrives at the crease. Although he has the most expensive economy rate of all Australia's bowlers, his ability to bowl medium pace or off-spin as the occasion suits is another string to his bow - as is his predatory fielding.

Mike Hussey, the man they call "Mr Cricket", has only had a walk-on part to play at most matches in this World Cup. Like Symonds, his opportunities with the bat have been limited, while he made just 24 runs from his first four innings, and opened the innings against Ireland to give him time in the middle. But he has continued to keep Brad Hodge out of the side, and has a proven record as Australia's "finisher" - they just have not needed a "finisher" so far in the tournament.

Shane Watson has shaken off injury problems to fill a vital all-round role for Australia. He bats at number seven and is a useful fielder and medium-fast change bowler. Having scored 142 runs in five innings, he is yet to be dismissed at this World Cup and is a powerful big-hitter late in the innings, such as when he made 65 not out from just 32 balls (including four sixes) against New Zealand in the Super 8s. However, his bowling was expensive in the semi-final against South Africa - and Sri Lanka may also target him as the potential weakest link in a strong pace attack.

Compared to Sri Lanka's top four batsmen, Chamara Silva is more of an accumulator of runs at number five rather than a spectacular hitter. He made his ODI debut in 1999, but was in the international wilderness for four years before being recalled for the tour of New Zealand in December. However, he has justified his recall by collecting four half-centuries at the World Cup without ever grabbing the headlines - and his average of 47 is only exceeded by captain Jayawardene. He is also an exceptional fielder in the infield.

Tillakaratne Dilshan can often provide acceleration in mid-innings for Sri Lanka. Usually batting at number six, his strike-rate is among the highest in the side, although he has only passed fifty once in the tournament. However, his all-round value to Jayawardene is often underestimated, as he is another reliable fielder - and so far in the tournament, he has sent down nearly 35 overs of off-spin which have cost less than four runs per over.

Russel Arnold, who is retiring from international cricket after this World Cup, comes in after Dilshan at number seven - and fulfils a similar role of middle-order batsman, safe fielder and occasional off-spinner. He has not scored as many runs or bowled as many overs at this World Cup as Dilshan, but remains an important part of the side. He was the star of Sri Lanka's under-strength attack against Australia in the Super 8s, dismissing both Gilchrist and Hayden.

VERDICT: Another deadlock. Both sides are used to the top order putting them into commanding positions - but what would they be like in a crisis?

SPIN BOWLING

Left-arm chinaman bowler Brad Hogg has firmly put his mark on the world stage at this tournament, taking 20 wickets at an impressive economy rate of under four runs per over. Finally emerging from the shadow of Shane Warne, the 36-year-old has tempted and deceived many batsmen with his flight and turn, and it could be a key battle if Sri Lanka's big hitters try to take him on. Hogg himself is also a capable hitter at number eight in the order - but his batting is rarely needed by Australia.

Muttiah Muralitharan has predictably dominated the Sri Lankan bowling, and his unique concoction of off-spin and doosras has captured 23 wickets so far. The management decided to rest him against Australia in the Super 8s, so Ponting's side will have had no "dress rehearsal" against him - and as a veteran of the 1996 final, he will hope to turn the tide against the world's number one side again.

VERDICT: Sri Lanka. Murali can bamboozle the world's best.

PACE BOWLING: THE SLINGERS

With Australia's pace spearhead Brett Lee ruled out by injury, some were surprised to see Shaun Tait take his place in the World Cup side ahead of Ashes hero Stuart Clark. But despite some occasionally erratic and expensive spells, Tait's extra pace with the new ball has earned him 23 World Cup wickets, albeit at a more expensive rate than the other Aussie front-line bowlers - and he cannot afford to bowl too wide or too short against Jayasuriya early on.

The unmistakeable Lasith Malinga wrote his name into World Cup folklore with his incredible four wickets in four balls against South Africa as Sri Lanka nearly pulled off an incredible victory in the Super 8s. Having played just 35 ODIs, he has taken 16 wickets from seven World Cup games while missing the other three through injury. He forms a very impressive new-ball attack with the experienced Vaas, and an early wicket-taking spell with those deadly yorkers could make all the difference for Sri Lanka.

VERDICT: Sri Lanka. Malinga wins the battle of the slingers.

PACE BOWLING: THE OLD CAMPAIGNERS

Glenn McGrath will want to use the stage of his final international match (and his 250th ODI) to pull the curtain down on his career by claiming a third winner's medal. Never happier than when his opponents or the media are ready to write him off, his nagging accuracy has claimed a staggering 25 wickets, making him the highest World Cup wicket-taker of all time. Has normally appeared as first change, but was given the new ball ahead of Tait against South Africa in the semi-final.

Chaminda Vaas is now 33 but although he may have lost a little of his pace, he remains a vital figure in Sri Lanka's new-ball attack alongside Malinga. Bowling left-arm over the wicket, he can swing the ball both ways and has a World Cup hat-trick on his CV from when he took wickets with the first three balls of the match against Bangladesh in 2003. This time round, he has taken 13 wickets at a cost of under 18 apiece. Unlike McGrath, he is more than useful with the bat as well.

VERDICT: Two class bowlers - it's difficult to separate them.

PACE BOWLING: THE THIRD SEAMER

With his long blond hair flapping in the wind, BBC Sport columnist Nathan Bracken's left-arm swing bowling with the new ball has been another of the bright sparks of Australia's attack. Despite being overlooked for the Ashes Test series, he has taken 15 World Cup wickets at an average of under 15, while he has often returned for a second spell late in the innings where he has continued to keep the runs down while also capturing extra wickets. Like fellow paceman Tait and McGrath, has not even had to pick up a bat yet at this World Cup.

Dilhara Fernando and Farveez Maharoof will contest the final seam bowling place for Sri Lanka, with chief selector Asantha de Mel hinting that Maharoof may be preferred. Both bowlers have played six matches each, and Maharoof has the edge both in terms of wickets taken and economy rate. Fernando was also warned twice for running on the pitch in the semi-final win over New Zealand - but whoever plays, Australia will undoubtedly target them as the weak link of Sri Lanka's attack.

VERDICT: Australia, by a fair distance.

FIELDING

Australia's energetic fielding is typified by the likes of Ponting, Clarke and Symonds, who are all live-wires in the infield, while Silva and Dilshan are among Sri Lanka's best. But while Sri Lanka have been encouraged and improved by fielding coach Trevor Penney, Australia are just that little bit better - and never give an inch.

VERDICT: Australia, by a short head.

OVERALL VERDICT

John Buchanan coaches Australia for the final time and will look to crown his spell in charge with a third successive World Cup victory - while Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody's number of admirers will grow even more if they are able to pull off a 1996-style upset against the world's number one side.

606: DEBATE Give your predictions for the final

Man for man, Australia do have the stronger side - but there are likely to be crucial battles at the top of each innings as Jayasuriya takes on Bracken, Tait and McGrath - while when Australia bat, the opening overs between Hayden and Gilchrist, and Malinga and Vaas, could be mouth-watering.

Australia will deservedly be ranked as favourites - but will write off Sri Lanka at their peril.