India, Australia face off in much-awaited final clash

Ricky Ponting says the World Cup is more prestigious than any trophy on offer in Test cricket.

Ponting will lead the defending champions into the Cup final against India on Sunday spurred on by messages of support from absentees Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie and Shane Watson and dedicating victory to "every Australian person" as his country becomes embroiled in the war on Iraq.

It will be a special occasion.

"I think this is as big an event that happens in world cricket," said Ponting.

"I do love playing Test cricket and there's nothing better than winning a big Test match or big Test series.

"I think this is the biggest in world cricket."

Asked about the players' feelings on the war on Iraq, Ponting said: "We are aware of what's going on.

"Whatever we do on Sunday is going to be for the whole of Australia, every Australian person.

"If we happen to play well and win a game, then hopefully that puts a smile on the face of every person back home."

Ponting rated opening batsman Sachin Tendulkar and India's left-arm seamers Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan as the biggest dangers to Australia.

Tendulkar, the little master, the best since Bradman, has been the player of the tournament, amassing 669 runs at an average of 66.9.

Nehra and Khan have been a revelation, taking 15 and 18 wickets respectively at averages of 15.46 and 17.05.

Their success against Australia's top order of Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Ponting will be crucial.

"Sachin has been as good as he's ever been," said Ponting, whose side limited Tendulkar to 36 from 59 balls at Centurion last month.

"We did a pretty good job on him last time. Obviously it helped that we had taken wickets at the other end as well. He couldn't probably be as free-flowing in that game as he would have liked.

"Hopefully that will work out against him this time."

The Australians will attempt to hurry Tendulkar with short and fast deliveries directed at his body.

Pitched up balls will be wide of off stump because he loves to drive straight.

"We've got to put pressure on him and all the Indian batters," said veteran Darren Lehmann.

"But it's not just Australia versus Sachin Tendulkar. They've got some class players. If we put them under pressure hopefully they'll crack."

Ponting faces the burden of expectation from a sport-loving Australian public but it's nothing compared to the pressure on Indian captain Saurav Ganguly.

India has a population of one billion and the vast majority of them are mad about cricket.

"Obviously being captain of India, there are a lot of expectations," Ganguly said.

"At the same time you look at the positives. There are so many people who want you to win. So many people who want you do well."

They're a passionate bunch, the Indian supporters.

Ganguly is either a hero or a villain depending on his team's results.

They burnt effigies of him after the loss at Centurion but since then he's become an idol again.

"We have got used to that actually," he said.

"At the end of the day we know they love us and want us to do well.

"It will be big for the people back home because it is a big sport in India."

Just one year after taking the reins from Steve Waugh, Ponting is one win away from the honour of being a World Cup-winning skipper.

"It'll be huge, no more so for me than the other guys in the side," he said.

"It will be a great honour for everyone in the side. You can guarantee we will be giving it our best shot.

"We have six guys who played the last World Cup final but India have a lot of guys who have played a lot of one-day cricket.

"Sachin has played over 300 games. It's pointing towards being a very good game."

Ponting said he wouldn't give any Churchillian-style speeches in the dressing room before the last one-day match that will really matter for Australia until the next World Cup in the Caribbean in 2007.

"I say a few words before most games as to what we want to do and how we should go about things as we go out on the field but the beauty about this side is you don't need to say too much to the lot of them," he said.

"They are very excited about going out there and representing Australia ... it's no bigger than any other games we've played in this tournament.

"That's the way we want to keep it - we haven't played our best yet, hopefully that comes out on Sunday."

The first ball will be bowled at 10am (7pm AEST) Sunday.