How Australian media have reacted to their side's semifinal win over India to set up a Cricket World Cup final clash with New Zealand.

Indian fans are selling off their tickets to the Cricket World Cup final after being knocked out of the tournament with a loss to Australia last night in Sydney.

Australian captain Michael Clarke heaped praise on New Zealand's performance at the World Cup as the teams prepare for the transtasman final.

World Cup cricket semifinal hero Grant Elliott may not have been made in New Zealand - but the bat that hit his match-winning six probably was.

Kiwi cricket luminaries have smacked away a sledge by Aussie great Matthew Hayden, who reckons our Black Caps will find themselves small fish in the MCGs big pond.

How's this for a bit of good fortune.

I think the Black Caps will win Sunday's World Cup final.

Trent Boult has almost effortless pace, a beautiful line, perfectly effective swing and has unleashed a good dollop of unplayable deliveries in the World Cup.

A year ago, you might not have given much for Trent Boult's chances of figuring quite so prominently in the World Cup.

Australian great Matthew Hayden says the Black Caps will struggle with the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Sunday's Cricket World Cup final.

One man who knows what the Black Caps will be feeling ahead of the final is Sir Graham Henry, former coach of the world cup winning All Blacks.

Ahead of their World Cup semifinal today, India and Australia took time to praise New Zealand's performance in claiming the first place in Sunday's final.

Forty thousand watched every ball, riding the tsunami of pressure as it vacillated between the New Zealanders and the South Africans.

His effect is beyond quantitative measurement. Without him, our chances of reaching a World Cup final would have been drastically reduced.

Fans desperate to get to the Melbourne Cricket Ground to support the Black Caps had to be quick yesterday.

Australian media are hailing the Black Caps nail-biting semifinal win as "dramatic", a "thriller" and as epic as a Lord of the Rings battle scene.

Black Caps coach Mike Hesson says the team shared some emotional words with each other and the Proteas in the changing room following the big semifinal.

It's unlikely the wider public has full appreciation of just how close Grant Elliott was to missing out on his World Cup dream.

Rugby people will swear the 2011 World Cup final can't be beaten for drama and sheer occasion. But this was sport in the raw. It doesn't get better.

For a horrible moment there, Grant Elliott thought he had left his run too late, that he was going to be left not out and not going to Melbourne.

Grant Elliott sent the Black Caps through to the Cricket World Cup final after winning the match with a six with a ball to spare.

Even in Showgirls, the cricket was playing. Auckland had surrendered to the game.

Former New Zealand cricket captain and selector Dion Nash is delighted cricket in his home town finally has a place to call home.