Tendulkar - greatest threat to Australia (Getty Images)

By Steve Joyce

We have said farewell to Kenya but, after weeks of drama, the World Cup has regained his authority at last.

India's comprehensive semi-final victory at Durban over the tournament's underdogs ensured that for all it storubles, the final will be contested by the world's top two one-day sides.

In view of the boycott, the political infighting and the farcical misreading of the rules, it was a slight surprise that Kenya did not somehow sneak their way into the final to be mauled by the Australians.

India might well suffer that fate on Sunday but at least that would only serve to emphasize the superiority of Australia.

But now we can imagine Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly flashing the Antipodean pacemen all round the ground as they have done to most attacks in this tournament.

Two of the outstanding batsmen here, they have amassed three centuries apiece already - and Tendulkar should really have six.

The head still says that Australia will win but the heart reckons that if Tendulkar and Co are chasing 250 on a decent strip, it could be game on.

India's only defeat at the World Cup has been by Australia and their miserable total of 125 must be banished from their minds if Australia are not to have a massive psychological advantage come Sunday.

But India have gone from strength to strength since that demise and recorded crucial victories over England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Last time around, it was the Pakistan pacemen that we believed would test Australia to the limit in a World Cup final.

It was a miserable mismatch.

Let's hope the Indian batsmen can help give us a final all cricket fans deserve.