Australia captain Michael Clarke is expecting to take the field with an unchanged side when Australia contest the ICC Cricket World Cup Final against New Zealand on Sunday.

The 1999, 2003 and 2007 winners have a fully fit squad at their disposal and Clarke believes the momentum of six successive victories, since losing to the Black Caps in the group stage, takes them into the MCG showpiece in confident mood.

“I think if everyone is fully fit it’s going to be extremely hard to change the eleven,” Clarke said.

"Josh Hazlewood came off the field with a sore thumb but it sounds to me like he’s completely fine. He just wanted to rest up for the final so the youngster took a few overs off. I think at this stage everybody is pretty good.

“I think New Zealand will take confidence that they’ve beaten us in the tournament,” the Australian skipper continued. “But I believe that was the turning point for this Australian team. 

“We got a bit of kick up the backside, we got a look at a very good team playing at the top of their game, certainly with the ball, and I think our attitude since that game has been exceptional.

“We’ve prepared so well for every game, we’ve grabbed momentum and we’ve tried to run with it and I think that will hold us in really good stead for Sunday.

“We’ll talk about the New Zealand team, there’s no doubt we’ll study them and we’ve been watching just about every game as well, or certainly myself and Boof [Darren Lehmann] have. 

“So we know who we’re up against, we know their strengths and we know their weaknesses.”

New Zealand left-armer Trent Boult tops the tournament wicket-takers log with 21 at an average 15.76 while Tim Southee, who shares the new balls, has 15 to his name including a seven wicket haul against England.

And despite MS Dhoni's suggestion that left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori could hold the key to success for the Black Caps, Clarke admits to being particularly wary of his opposition's pace bowling potential.

“I think their new-ball bowling has been exceptional,” he said.

“We experienced that in the game we played against them and we’ve seen that throughout the tournament. 

“They’ve been able to swing the ball in New Zealand and even if it hasn’t swung they’ve executed, so we’ll have to be sure that we bat well.”

 

Trent Bridge hosts the fourth Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand on Wednesday 17 June. Don't miss the chance to watch England seek redemption against the Kiwis and secure your seat now.