October 05, 2009:
The finals of the ICC Champions Trophy will be played today at the Centurion Park grounds in South Africa between Australia and New Zealand.
Australia beat England to advance to the finals while New Zealand beat Pakistan.Critics predict that the Centurion Park pitch would provide a flat batting surface and that the captain who wins the toss would most likely to bat first.
New Zealand who have preciously entered 13 tournament finals and won four are yet to record a win against Australia in a final.
Skipper Daniel Vettori, one of the main contenders for the Man of the Series Award will be leading a depleted squad lacking the services of key players such as Jesse Ryder and Darel Tuffey.
The Australians meanwhile have reached 19 tournament finals since 1999 and have only lost three.
This will be the first occasion on which the Trans Tasman rivals will meet each other in a final at a neutral venue.
Skipper Ricky Ponting, who is in fine nick following his unbeaten century against England has said that the Australians will have to be at their best if they were to beat the Kiwis.