STEP1:Good coaching staff
Head coach: Darren Lehmann
Assistant coach & Batting coach: Michael Di Venuto
Test Fast Bowling Coach: Craig McDermott
Limited Overs Fast bowling coach: Allister de Winter
Spin Bowling Coach: Muttiah Muralitharan
Fielding coach: Greg Blewett
Strength & Conditioning coach: Stuart Karppinen
Team physiotherapist: Alex Kountouris
Team doctor: Peter Brukner
Team manager: Gavin Dovey
Performance analyst: Michael Marshal
STEP2:Inspirational captain
Batsman Hughes died at the age of 25 after being struck on the neck by a bouncer in Sydney in November.
"I'm sure everybody on this stage will say we played this World Cup with 16 players," said Clarke after his team's seven-wicket win over New Zealand.
"Hughesy used to party as good as any of them so I guarantee we'll celebrate hard tonight."
After Australia bowled out New Zealand for 183, Clarke led from the front with 74 as the hosts knocked off the runs in 33.1 overs at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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Cricket World Cup 2015: Fitting end for Michael Clarke - Michael Vaughan
Clarke, who read a moving eulogy at Hughes's funeral, batted with a black armband carrying the player's initials in his final one-day international.
"As you can see it's got PH on it. I'll wear it every game I play for Australia," added Clarke.
"I think for everybody in Australian cricket it's been really tough few months. Tonight is certainly dedicated to our little brother and our team-mate Phillip Hughes."
Paceman Mitchell Starc set the tone for a blistering bowling performance in the first over of the match when he bowled opposing captain Brendon McCullum.
Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner weighed in with three wickets apiece as the Kiwis were bowled out in 45 overs.
STEP3:Batting and Bowling
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.
Head coach: Darren Lehmann
Assistant coach & Batting coach: Michael Di Venuto
Test Fast Bowling Coach: Craig McDermott
Limited Overs Fast bowling coach: Allister de Winter
Spin Bowling Coach: Muttiah Muralitharan
Fielding coach: Greg Blewett
Strength & Conditioning coach: Stuart Karppinen
Team physiotherapist: Alex Kountouris
Team doctor: Peter Brukner
Team manager: Gavin Dovey
Performance analyst: Michael Marshal
STEP2:Inspirational captain
Batsman Hughes died at the age of 25 after being struck on the neck by a bouncer in Sydney in November.
"I'm sure everybody on this stage will say we played this World Cup with 16 players," said Clarke after his team's seven-wicket win over New Zealand.
"Hughesy used to party as good as any of them so I guarantee we'll celebrate hard tonight."
After Australia bowled out New Zealand for 183, Clarke led from the front with 74 as the hosts knocked off the runs in 33.1 overs at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Play media
Jump media playerMedia player helpOut of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.
Cricket World Cup 2015: Fitting end for Michael Clarke - Michael Vaughan
Clarke, who read a moving eulogy at Hughes's funeral, batted with a black armband carrying the player's initials in his final one-day international.
"As you can see it's got PH on it. I'll wear it every game I play for Australia," added Clarke.
"I think for everybody in Australian cricket it's been really tough few months. Tonight is certainly dedicated to our little brother and our team-mate Phillip Hughes."
Paceman Mitchell Starc set the tone for a blistering bowling performance in the first over of the match when he bowled opposing captain Brendon McCullum.
Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner weighed in with three wickets apiece as the Kiwis were bowled out in 45 overs.
STEP3:Batting and Bowling
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.
