World Cup final: World media reacts

The Guardian: Australia steamroller New Zealand to win World Cup final in style

A six-week tournament ends with the favourites taking a title they were always destined to claim if they could hold their nerve. This they did almost unwaveringly, faltering only in the nail-biter against these same opponents in Auckland and then only by the most slender of margins.

They really do have a powerful side, appropriate for the age and the conditions. But New Zealand have given the tournament a run for its money, reigniting a passion for the game in their homeland, not just by the manner in which they play their cricket but the spirit in which they did so. It is something that could serve as a lesson to some others. They leave Melbourne without the trophy but can do so with many friends and their heads held high. 

BBC: World Cup team of the tournament

• Brendon McCullum (New Zealand, captain)
• Martin Guptill (New Zealand)
• Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka, wicketkeeper)
• Steve Smith (Australia)
• AB de Villiers (South Africa)
• Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
• Corey Anderson (New Zealand)
• Daniel Vettori (New Zealand)
• Mitchell Starc (Australia)
• Trent Boult (New Zealand)
• Morne Morkel (South Africa)
• 12th man: Mohammed Shami (India)

The Guardian: Michael Clarke dedicates Australia’s World Cup win to Phillip Hughes

Clarke would not be drawn into debate about a number of verbal barbs following key New Zealand wickets, claiming he was too far away from the action to judge. “Obviously it’s a World Cup final. There’s passion, there’s excitement, there’s adrenaline running through the guys’ bodies,” he said. “I don’t think there was anything that was below the belt.”

Sydney Morning Herald Michael Clarke passes baton to Steven Smith as two generations bring home World Cup title

A near-perfect final performance capped a tournament during which Australia, aside from two hours of batting in Auckland and one in Adelaide, had revived the heights of their campaign in the West Indies in 2007. In an event dominated by batsmen, it had been Australia's bowlers who laid the foundation.

Starc, who bowled the first ball of the final, has become a most imposing sight. In perfect Melbourne autumn sunshine, with the 49-match event now reduced to the simplicity of gold versus black on a green field, Starc destroyed New Zealand's Plan A in his first over.

The Telegraph Our bowlers won final, says Michael Clarke, after Australia thrash New Zealand

“It was a great final, and I think the two best teams in the World Cup were in the final and it just happened to be our day today,” Clarke added.

Clarke said he had not seen any of the send-offs which the Australians gave to the New Zealanders – an area of their game which made many neutrals support New Zealand in the final.

ESPN Cricinfo Majestic Australia win fifth World Cup

Luck too, favoured 21st century pragmatism over the fairytale. Daniel Vettori, the final's oldest man, injured himself early in the second innings and could only pivot gingerly through his five overs. Brendon McCullum had attacked relentlessly in the field right through this campaign, but the moment Warner's assault bent his resolve out of shape, the next ball flew through second slip, where moments before a fielder had stood. Then the final slap in the face in the 15th over: Matt Henry's ball dribbled on to Smith's stumps but did not dislodge the zing bails [the electronics for the flashing special effects make the bails heavier – Editor].

ESPN Cricinfo: NZ found wanting for a plan B

Throughout the tournament, they have captured the imagination of the world with an attacking style of cricket. But against an in-form Australia in the final, [New Zealand] were found wanting for a lack of plan B.

Whether setting a five-slip cordon or smashing an 18-ball fifty, Brendon McCullum has flown through this World Cup at breakneck speed. Almost literally, in the case of his reckless diving attempt to prevent a boundary against Bangladesh. The aggressive style has swept the nation up along the way, and raised hopes of beating Australia at their own approach in the final.

That is why Sunday's defeat was a letdown. That New Zealand lost in front of a record cricket crowd of 93,013 at the MCG was maybe not surprising. That they did so by scoring just over four an over, by reducing the cordon to one slip in the fifth over of Australia's chase, when David Warner's edge flew safely to where a second would have been – these were the disappointments.

The Independent: Australia beat New Zealand by seven wickets at the MCG to become world champions

This made a disappointing culmination to a thoroughly engaging tournament. New Zealand have illuminated the past six weeks during which, as their captain Brendon McCullum has regularly observed, they have had the time of their lives. But it was a match too far. The occasion appeared to consume them.

The Wall Street Jounal: Cricket World Cup Final: As It Happened

The New Zealanders trudge off. They played so well throughout the tournament but they didn’t bring their best today, far from it. Australia wins with ease. 

Cricket.com.au Australia win the World Cup

New Zealand’s semi-final hero Grant Elliott typified the fighting spirit that characterises both nations with a superb 83 but in truth it appeared as if the men in black had played their final five days earlier, when they defeated South Africa in thrilling circumstances in Auckland.