It all went wrong for India at the start (Getty Images).

By Jonathan Turner

Ricky Ponting's stunning hundred will rightly make most of the headlines but Australia won the World Cup final before he even strode out to the wicket.

After winning the toss and taking the decision to field, Sourav Ganguly was completely let down by his bowlers on a pitch that actually offered plenty of assistance.

The first over summed it up.

Whether Zaheer Khan was too nervous, trying too hard or bowling too quick, the fact of the matter is that an awful opening over cost 15 runs - including eight extras - and the momentum was all with Australia.

Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden didn't even have to be at their destructive best as they were fed a diet of four-balls which they gleefully crashed to the boundary.

It was hard not to feel sorry for Ganguly - though there will be those who will argue he handed the initiative to the opposition in not batting first and sending his trump card Sachin Tendulkar straight into action.

But the inescapable truth was that India simply bowled appallingly in the first ten or so overs and the game was virtually beyond recall.

It meant that when Gilchrist and Hayden did depart, skipper Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn - cleared for the final after a late fitness test - were able to take a little time to play themselves in.

Ponting was scratchy early on but was able to find his range - and once he did, it was game over.

He clattered eight sixes in his unbeaten 140 and was given wonderful support by the graceful Martyn.

They maximised their advantage so well - not only with their stunning strokeplay but with superb running between the wickets.

Their final score of 359 for two rewrote the record books and was always going to be way beyond India.

It was a ruthless display from Australia and one which gave the World Cup a fitting finale.

The tournament has had its critics - and rightly so - but the fact of the matter is that Australia are head and shoulders above their rivals and made light of any problems.

They won every single game - and not only showed they are the most talented side, but also the one with the greatest character.

Their campaign could have been derailed before it even began as Shane Warne made a shock exit and they've also suffered more than most with injuries over the course of the last few weeks.

The star men - led by Brett Lee - have delivered right from the off but it's been the vital contributions of the likes of Andrew Symonds and Andy Bichel which has really raised them to a new level.

And how in-keeping with the whole Australian mentaility that on the biggest stage of all in the final they produced their most devastating display.

Think back to the toss before the final and how relaxed Ponting was in comparison to Ganguly and how that manifested itself in the opening phase.

The Aussies seem to relish the pressure when it is at its fiercest - in contrast to most other sides who buckle under it.

And while that's made for plenty of one-sided games in this tournament, not least the final, you've got to admire the Aussies.

They've set new standards in the Test match arena and now they've done the same in the one-day sphere.

Because while they won the World Cup in 1999, this triumph was altogether more impressive.

They've got virtually the perfect side - an awesome batting line-up that gets its runs quickly and a lethal bowling battery that knows taking wickets is the quickest way to slow up the scoring rate.

It's proved an unstoppable combination and one that - even for an Englishman - is a pleasure and privilege to watch.

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