Australia went through the entire World Cup without once requiring Mike Hussey, their most rounded one-day batsman. The only time he batted, it was because he was shoved up the order so that he could keep his eye in.If a batting line-up can win all of their matches and have someone like him in reserve, it's some batting line-up. It's a batting line-up that boasts Brad Hogg at number eight - a man who averages 34 in first-class cricket.
We genuinely believed the Australians would struggle when confronted with Vaas, Malinga and Murali, but only Malinga took wickets and he still went for more than six an over. The way Australia's batsmen went about their task in the World Cup final was exemplary. The openers first sized up the situation and when Adam Gilchrist took off, Hayden and Ponting both recognised that they didn't need to do anything special. A risk-taker and an accomplice - the perfect one-day combination.
Australia: 2007 World Cup winners
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