Crowning of a first-time winner makes WC final extra special: Vettori

Former captain Daniel Vettori said Sunday's World Cup final between New Zealand and England will be "extra special" considering there would be a first-time champion.

"Both teams will be very excited about reaching the World Cup final, and the crowning of a first-time winner makes it extra special," Vettori wrote in his column for the ICC.

"...One of these teams getting across the line for the first time is going to be really exciting.

"Sri Lanka in 1996 were the last first-time winner - that win swept the country and I think it would be exactly the same for New Zealand," he added.

The left-arm spinner felt the final would be a 50-50 game.

"It's a 50-50 game and that's how both teams will view it. Virat Kohli said earlier in the tournament that if a team plays well, they can beat anyone and if they don't, anyone can beat them.

"Both captains will view it that way, the two have immense respect for each other and there will be lots of camaraderie between the sides. They play in a similar spirit and, whatever the result, it will be a great showcase for the game of cricket," said Vettori.

"They both have the skill and the initiative to think on their feet and we've seen them at their bests in the past couple of games."
"They can replay what they went through four years ago, the emotion and experience is very unique, and there are very few people who get to play in back-to-back World Cup finals,"