Starc’s journey to top of World Cup tree

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LEFT-ARM greatness again struck the MCG on World Cup final day, with Australian superstar Mitchell Starc putting his name up in lights alongside the legendary Wasim Akram.

In a batsman's tournament, it is only fitting that the Player of the Tournament be the bowler who not only bucked the trend but capped it all off with a debunking of the Cup's most explosive hitter.

"I wouldn't say that," said Starc when asked if he was the best bowler in the world.

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"But I've worked really hard at it for a number of months now with (bowling coach) Craig McDermott in the background. A few series ago we put down a plan and to see it come to fruition through the whole tournament and tonight is amazing."

"A few series ago we sat down and panned out a little plan. To see it come to fruition tonight or through the whole tournament really has been phenomenal."

Starc's breathtaking three-ball dismantling of New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum in the opening over of last night's final will live forever in World Cup folklore.

"There was a lot of luck involved I think but it's a little plan Craig and I had going a couple of days ago," said Starc.

"Brendon has been fantastic throughout the whole tournament so I think there was a lot of luck involved but I'm just happy to get that one."

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Starc celebrates rattling Brendon McCullum's castle. Source: AP

It served as a spectacular launching pad for what promises to be a stellar career as New Zealand and the catalyst of an emphatic seven-wicket victory as the Black Caps were rolled for just 183.

Twenty-three years after Pakistan wonder kid Akram decimated England in the 1992 decider in Melbourne, Starc (2-20) showed yesterday that lightning can strike twice.

Fellow southpaw power punchers Mitchell Johnson (3-30) and James Faulkner (3-36) weren't to be outdone either, as Australia's left-arm brigade tore the heart out of an overawed and outclassed New Zealand batting order.

Starc has finished this World Cup with stunning figures of 22 wickets at just 10.18, with an economy rate of 3.5.

Wasim Akram was a left-arm master. Source: News Limited

As a result, the 25-year-old sensation is well on his way to emulating the likes of Akram and teammate Johnson as one of the most feared left-armers in cricket history.

"Bowlers have won us the World Cup," Australia captain Michael Clarke said on Sunday night.

"No doubt Starcy deserves the man of the series award. I think he's been exceptional. I think our whole attack has to be honest.

"Batters certainly stood up and grabbed their opportuniteis but bowling perfomrances in every single game have been exceptional, and probably none better than today."

It's hard to fathom that Starc stood accused of being soft to start this summer.

Yesterday, on the season's final day he proved he's as hard as cement by delivering when it mattered most.

The tutelage that Akram has given a young Starc over the years has clearly not gone to waste.

Starc has been dropped from the Test team 11 times in his 15-match career, but all of a sudden it's hard to image an Australian attack without him, irrespective of ball colour.

"I'd like to but I'm just going to enjoy this one for now," Starc said on becoming a permanent figure in the Test team.

McCullum v Starc was the bout 91,000 supporters came to see, and the fight was all over in spectacular round one knockout.

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Starc has been dropped from the Test team 11 times in his 15-match career, but all of a sudden it's hard to image an Australian attack without him, irrespective of ball colour.

"I'd like to but I'm just going to enjoy this one for now," Starc said on becoming a permanent figure in the Test team.

McCullum v Starc was the bout 91,000 supporters came to see, and the fight was all over in spectacular round one knockout.

"The support from the Australian public and the crowd here tonight has been fantastic through the whole tournament for us so thank you all," he said.

"To play in front of this many people, there's nothing like it."

First ball to the Black Caps' inspirational leader was near perfect.

Full, just outside the off-stump at 149km/h.

Mitchell Starc claimed the prize wicket of Brendon McCullum in the first over of the final. Source: AP

First ball to the Black Caps' inspirational leader was near perfect.

Full, just outside the off-stump at 149km/h.

McCullum drove forward and missed as the ball sizzled past the inside edge and the timber by the narrowest of margins.

Next ball McCullum decided to charge.

It was a poor decision.

Starc tracked him with another thunderbolt which McCullum slashed at to no avail and the ball this time passed by his leg-stump.

Before the group game between the trans-Tasman rivals in Auckland, David Warner declared McCullum was capable of a "brain explosion."

It didn't come that day, but yesterday McCullum's next move was to hit the self-destruct button.

Starc crashed a full ball through McCullum's loose attempt at a drive and into the stumps.

It was a case of three strikes and your out so classic, even New York Yankees baseball legend Derek Jeter understood what had happened as he watched from an MCG corporate box.

Starc set off into the outfield in rampant celebration, with New Zealand's hopes of a fairytale virtually extinguished.

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It was the same in 1992, when Akram landed two lethal blows in an over to crush English dreams.

New Zealand collapsed, the skipper was culpable, but this was rare class from Starc.

It was followed up in emphatic fashion by Johnson and Faulkner.

Johnson has had to ride shot gun to Starc as the young bull has assumed the mantle of one-day spearhead this tournament.

But in the heat of a semi-final and now a final, Johnson has once again shown what he's made of.

Allrounder Faulkner was so desired in this World Cup XI for his finishing ability with the bat.

But yesterday marked the third occasion this tournament where his bowling has been match-turning for his team.

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