A win on Sunday night in the Cricket World Cup final and New Zealand will be the best team in the world.

But going into the clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against either India or Australia you could argue they are already the best all-round 'team' at the tournament.

Almost every player who has taken the field has played a major role at some point of the competition with six players picking up man of the match awards - none of which has gone to the side's most regarded batsmen in Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson.

Here's a breakdown of how each player has stepped up at some point during the tournament.

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Martin Guptill
Man of the match awards against Bangladesh and the West Indies. Scored 105 in the final pool match against Bangladesh in Hamilton followed by the record breaking 237 not out in the Wellington quarter-final. Needs 10 further runs in final to pass Kumar Sangakkara as the highest run scorer in the tournament.
Man of the match - v Bangladesh, v West Indies

Brendon McCullum
Has put fear into all bowling attacks with his aggressive approach at the top of the order. Scored four half centuries and set the tone in the opening win over Sri Lanka with 65 followed by a quickfire 77 from just 25 balls against England. Has also been the most innovative captain at the tournament with aggressive fielding tactics and bowling options.


McCullum on his way to a quickfire 50 against South Africa. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Kane Williamson
A fairly quiet tournament for the ever in-form No3, scoring one half century which came in the opening win over Sri Lanka. But a calm innings against Australia ended with the match-winning six off Pat Cummins and ensured New Zealand claimed a vital pool win over their transtasman rivals.

Ross Taylor
It's fair to say Taylor has contributed the least in terms of New Zealand batsmen after a rough start to the tournament, taking until his fifth knock to pass 20. But, despite looking scratchy at times, he has played a vital role in partnerships - putting on 143 with Guptill in the quarter-final (granted he scored only 42 of those runs). Started to show form on Tuesday - his third decent knock in a row, before running out Guptill. Watch this space on Sunday.

Grant Elliott
The match-winner on Tuesday night after six decent starts and just one failure in the tournament. Hasn't been as handy with the ball, taking 2-68 in eight overs of work.
Man of the match - v South Africa

Grant Elliott helps up Dale Steyn after hitting the match-winning runs off the South African paceman. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Corey Anderson
Made a strong start to the tournament with 75 and 2-18 against Sri Lanka to earn man of the match honours. Vital partnership with Elliott set up the win against South Africa. Has made a name of himself by picking up a vital wicket just when the side needs one. Fourteen wickets in the tournament is very handy from your fifth option.
Man of the match - v Sri Lanka

Luke Ronchi
Has struggled with the bat, averaging 14.60 and passing 20 just once but has had limited chances in his 'closer' role. Other than the dropped catch of Quinton de Kock on Tuesday, a hard chance diving to his left, Ronchi has rarely put a foot wrong behind the stumps.

Daniel Vettori
Vintage Vettori with the ball, taking 15 wickets in the tournament. Man of the match against Afghanistan in Napier, taking 4-18. Played a crucial role in the Australia victory after being tossed the ball early by McCullum - keeping David Warner at bay. Cameo with the bat against South Africa including a vital four in the final over. And how can we forget that catch against the West Indies.
Man of the match - v Afghanistan


Vettori celebrates the wicket of Australian Steven Smith. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Trent Boult
Currently the top wicket taker of the tournament with 21 at an average of 15.76. Has been devastating with a swinging new ball including 5-27 against Australia, for which he earned man of the match, and 4-44 against the West Indies. His other man of the match was against Scotland when he took 2-21.
Man of the match - v Scotland, v Australia

Trent Boult has picked up two man of the match awards. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Tim Southee
Ripped through the England top, middle and lower order to finish with 7-33 in Wellington - New Zealand's best ever ODI bowling figures. Made a great opening bowling tandem with Boult.
Man of the match - v England

Adam Mine/Matt Henry
Milne completed his 10 overs only twice in six matches which was down to Southee and Boult doing the early damage. Best outing was 2-56 in the opener against Sri Lanka but his pace was very handy in the attack, before being ruled out of the tournament with injury.

Henry was rushed into the squad before the semifinal and performed admirably against South Africa, opening with a couple of maidens before finishing with 0-40 from eight overs.