ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 saw the two best teams in the competition reach the final. New Zealand got there by winning all of their matches, while Australia's only blot was a thrilling one-wicket defeat to -- you guessed it -- NZ. Both teams possessed strength in all areas, from batting to bowling to fielding, and both teams played with an attacking mindset designed to take control of the game early.


While Australia were clearly the superior team in the final, it was a shame that one side had to lose.

BACKING THE BLACK CAPS

However, New Zealand can take heart that the current team has its best years ahead, and may peak once more in the 2019 competiton: True, its first XI has a roughly even balance between youth and experience. Here are the guys that won't be a part of Cricket World Cup 2019 (and their 2015 ages in brackets):

• Grant Elliott (36)
• Brendon McCullum (33)
• Nathan McCullum (34)
• Kyle Mills (36)
• Luke Ronchi (33)
• Daniel Vettori (36)

There's a question mark over Ross Taylor (31), who is just entering what should be the peak period of his career. But -- barring injury or loss of form -- the rest of the squad should all still be part of the setup come 2019:

• Corey Anderson (24)
• Trent Boult (25)
• Martin Guptill (28)
• Matt Henry (23)
• Tom Latham (22)
• Mitchell McClenaghan (28)
• Tim Southee (26)
• Kane Williamson (24)

That list of eight names comprises two of the best fast bowlers in world cricket, the man expected to become New Zealand's greatest ever batsman, an all-rounder with the talent to become the best in the world, two experienced and destructive players who should be at their peak in 2019, and two youngsters who have already shown themselves capable of performing well at international level.

Not only that, New Zealand have young players on the fringe of the national team who could make the step up. Doug Bracewell, James Neesham, and Hamish Rutherford have already delivered fine performances at international level, while the likes of Jacob Duffy, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, George Worker, and Will Young have shown promise in domestic leagues.

The most important among all these names is Kane Williamson, who is expected to take over as New Zealand captain when McCullum stands down. Williamson is already counted among the world's best batsmen; he's also a keen student of the game and a highly respected member of the Black Caps group. New Zealand could go far under his leadership.

AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE

New Zealand may be able to boast quality young players right now, but the Aussie production line continues to churn out outstanding cricket players with the ability and hunger to excel on the global stage.

That may be explained by the standard of cricket played in the Sheffield Shield, which is generally considered the toughest domestic cricket league in the world. Only six teams compete in a nation of around 25 million people, so you have to be extremely good to make it there. And if you are then picked for the Australian team, you have already had your skills thoroughly examined and your mettle tested.

Let's run the rule over the green and gold in the same way as above. First, the guys who won't be there in 2019 (2015 age in brackets):

• George Bailey (32)
• Michael Clarke (33)
• Xavier Doherty (32)
• Brad Haddin (37)
• Mitchell Johnson (33)
• Shane Watson (33)

And the guys who more than likely will be there in 2019:

• Pat Cummins (21)
• James Faulkner (24)
• Aaron Finch (28)
• Josh Hazlewood (24)
• Mitchell Marsh (23)
• Glenn Maxwell (26)
• Steven Smith (25)
• Mitchell Starc (25)
• David Warner (28)

The frightening thing for the rest of the cricket world is that the second list of names inspires a lot more dread than the first. Australia may be losing some fine players, but it will have some even better ones entering the prime of their careers in 2019. Among them are three superb fast bowlers, three world-class all-rounders, the team's current opening batsmen, and the most prolific international runmaker of the six months.

There's another list, of course: the Australians who weren't part of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 but could have performed with aplomb. These names include fast bowler Sean Abbott, all-rounder Moises Henriques, batsman Usman Khawaja, spin bowler Nathan Lyon, and fast bowlers Gurinder Sandhu and James Pattinson.

That prolific runmaker mentioned above is Steven Smith, Australia's captain-in-waiting. It appears unlikely his form will desert him, but even if he does suffer a dip, he has the temperament and work ethic to fight his way back to the top. Like Williamson, Smith is young and fresh-faced but a greatly respected and valued team man.

Another final between these two Antipodean cricket powers would be a welcome spectacle. But four years is a long time in sport. England will look to Jos Buttler and Joe Root to dig them out of the mire; India will look to Virat Kohli to spearhead a new era of dominance; South Africa will look to David Miller to finally lift them to a World Cup final. There will be no shortage of contenders for the crown, but in their 2015 squads, both Australia and New Zealand have a core of players to repeat the dose in 2019.