KEY POINTS:
An old boxing adage that a good big fighter will always beat a good small one could equally apply to tomorrow's World Cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka.
Australia have added another dimension to the 50-overs game at this tournament, which culminates at Kensington Oval after seven
weeks in eight West Indian regions.
While justifiably proud of their skill levels and a work ethic of puritanical intensity, the defending champs have introduced a power element that could sway the final at the spiritual home of Caribbean cricket.
Matthew Hayden at the top of the order has hit three centuries and amassed the biggest run tally of the tournament with his brutal left-handed assaults off the front foot back over the bowler's head.
His partner Adam Gilchrist, the best batsman-wicketkeeper ever, has not yet fired but remains as potentially destructive as his opening partner should his timing return.
Andrew Symonds at number five is a wonderful athlete who possesses strength and finesse and Shane Watson, two places further down the order, can hit the ball as cleanly and as far as any of his teammates.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting said before the tournament began that big, strong men hitting through the ball were changing the nature of the game.
His observation was implemented before Australia's final first-round match against South Africa in St Kitts when they devoted a training session with both an open and closed net to throwing the bat at the ball.
Several screamed through the air into a sugar cane field, others threatened the safety of the spectators sitting in a small stand. The result was an Australian Cup record of 377 and an 83-run win over the then world number one side.
This is not to say the Australian batting is all about hitting sixes.
Ponting is in the form of his life and it is difficult to conceive that anybody at any time has batted better than he has.
Michael Clarke, his prospective heir, has also batted beautifully with precise footwork complemented by wristy drives.
Michael Hussey, the most prolific Australian batsman over the past year, has not even been required to make a contribution.
If Sri Lanka are to beat Australia they must dismiss or contain the most daunting batting line-up around and the 1996 champions have by common consent the most varied attack in the competition.
Lasith Malinga, who took four wickets in four balls against South Africa, was lethal in the semifinal against New Zealand, with his round-arm slingers honing in on the batsmen at speeds consistently in excess of 145km/h. Chaminda Vaas continues to delight the purists by getting out class batsmen with immaculate swing bowling at a modest pace.
Muttiah Muralitharan is the best spin bowler in the world and can simultaneously restrict and attack with his rubber-wristed off-spinners and the doosra.
The batting on the slow Caribbean pitches where the bounce gets lower as the day progresses depends heavily on Sanath Jayasuriya, who does not need the ball coming on to him fast to score quickly, but otherwise the Sri Lankans lack the power of the Australians to hit the ball over the top.
As Ponting is quick to acknowledge, no team are impregnable and one day the unbeaten Australian run at World Cups going back to the 1999 tournament will end.
Australia are doing everything in their power to ensure tomorrow is not that day.
Australia v Sri Lanka
Barbados, 1am tomorrow
AUSTRALIA
Captain
* Ricky Ponting
Coach
* John Buchanan
Squad
* Ricky Ponting, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson.
World Cup Record
* 1975 - runners-up; 1979 - first round; 1983 - first round; 1987 - champions; 1992 first round; 1996 -runners-up; 1999 - champions; 2003 - champions
Road To Final
Group Stage:
* Defeated Scotland by 203 runs.
* Defeated Netherlands by 229 runs.
* Defeated South Africa by 83 runs.
Super Eights:
* Defeated West Indies by 103 runs.
* Defeated Bangladesh by 10 wickets.
* Defeated England by seven wickets.
* Defeated Ireland by nine wickets.
* Defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets.
* Defeated New Zealand by 215 runs.
Semifinal:
* Defeated South Africa by seven wickets
SRI LANKA
Captain
* Mahela Jayawardene
Coach
* Tom Moody
Squad
* Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Marvan Atapattu, Malinga Bandara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dilhara Fernando, Sanath Jayasuriya, Nuwan Kulasekara, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga, Chaminda Vaas.
World Cup Record
* 1975 - first round; 1979 - first round; 1983 - first round; 1987 - first round; 1992 - first round; 1996 - champions; 1999 - first round; 2003 - semifinalists.
Road To Final
Group stage
* Defeated Bermuda by 243 runs.
* Defeated Bangladesh by 198 runs (D/L method).
* Defeated India by 69 runs.
Super Eights
* Lost to South Africa by one wicket.
* Defeated West Indies by 113 runs.
* Defeated England by two runs.
* Defeated New Zealand by six wickets.
* Lost to Australia by seven wickets.
* Defeated Ireland by eight wickets.
Semifinal
* Defeated New Zealand by 81 runs
- REUTERS
