ICC Champions Trophy final, Centurion:
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**By Mark Mitchener **
From ChrisDownUnder on 606:](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A58021517)"If the Kiwis win, we won’t hear the last of it. They will become the unofficial world champs to all those Kiwis that live here in Oz…"2nd over - NZ 3-0
Peter Siddle charges in for the second over with two slips in, McCullum drives but Nathan Hauritz makes a good stop at cover. Siddle is right on the money, back-of-a-length just outside off stump, and McCullum can’t get him away as he plays out a maiden over.
From JTB in Balloch, via text on 81111: "Vettori injured I blame all that horse racing he used to do!"1st over - NZ 3-0
Brett Lee takes the new ball for Australia - his first delivery is wide outside opener/keeper/stand-in skipper Brendon McCullum’s off stump, and English umpire Gould is straight into the action to signal a wide. Lee yells an lbw appeal, but it’s a good decision by “Gunner” Gould as McCullum got a faint inside edge onto his pad. Lee then whips in an unplayable ball at McCullum that moves late, beats his outside edge and just misses off stump, there’s a half-hearted appeal for a catch behind but nothing doing. A legside wide doubles the Kiwis’ score, then McCullum forces a leg bye off the last ball. No runs off the bat so far, but a hostile first over from Lee putting the brakes on McCullum’s natural aggression at the top of the order.From Colin McL, TMS inbox: "Real shame that Daniel V isn’t fit enough to play today. His sportsmanship alone should win him a gong in this tournament… so, on his behalf, come on the Black Caps!"1326: Teams line up for the anthems. New Zealand’s first, then Australia’s. The singers of these anthems have been, ahem, of varying quality - remember Graeme Swann chuckling at the woman getting some of the words to “God Save The Queen” wrong, and the Norman Collier-style defective microphone routine during the NZ anthem in the semi-finals. But these two are pretty good - the man singing the Aussie anthem has a luxurious baritone voice.1324: Although it’s been chucking it down with rain here in London all morning, it’s dry at the moment at Centurion - although the TMS team are concerned there may be a chance of rain later. But let’s hope we get a proper game in - and don’t get a farcical finish like the 2007 World Cup final.
Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop on TMS: "Vettori is a big loss as alongside Ricky Ponting, he’s a contender for player of the tournament. But the West Indies ‘third team’ have shown us that if you take a team lightly, you can fall flat on your face"From David, Spain, TMS inbox: "Vettori unfit to play That’s devastating news "1310: Oh, and we do have some English representation in the final today - New Zealand coach Andy Moles (born in Solihull), and umpire Ian Gould (ex-Middlesex and Sussex), who will be joined on the field today by ICC umpire of the year Aleem Dar, of Pakistan. Dar’s compatriot Asad Rauf is on TV replays, while Billy Bowden is fourth umpire, whose usual task is to bring out a black briefcase with replacement balls. Match referee is Roshan Mahanama - to complete the line-up, I’m joined by Pranav Soneji on match-report duties and we’re both under the iron fist of our “gaffer” today, Alistair Watkins.1305: Apparently Vettori’s confirmed absence came too late for New Zealand to register Scott “The Penguin” Styris as a replacement player - having already called up three replacement players (James Franklin, Aaron Redmond and Iain O’Brien) for injured trio Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder and Daryl Tuffey. Styris flew in the other day as cover for Grant Elliott who was also carrying an injury, although he wasn’t officially part of the squad. Here are the full teams:Australia: Shane Watson, Tim Paine (wk), Ricky Ponting (capt), Mike Hussey, Callum Ferguson, Cameron White, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle.New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (capt & wk), Aaron Redmond, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Neil Broom, James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Ian Butler, Jeetan Patel, Shane Bond.1302: New Zealand’s stand-in captain Brendon McCullum has won the toss and opted to bat first. The one change from their semi-final side is off-spinner Jeetan Patel replacing Vettori. Australia retain the unchanged side they’ve fielded throughout the tournament.1300: Afternoon, everyone - and a particular welcome to all Australia and New Zealand fans reading this - you can be assured that whether you hail from Melbourne or Milford Sound, Wellington or Wagga Wagga, we’ll be playing a straight bat from here. But some bad news for the Kiwis straight up - captain Daniel Vettori is ruled out with his hamstring injury which he aggravated during the semi-finalThis article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.