They also do not seem to care or grasp how it rankles with opponents, and how insufferably arrogant it makes them look. Do they really think they are the only country that plays with passion and pride? Do they think they patented the will to win? Do they think they have cornered the market in competitiveness?

Grant Elliott cops a mouthful from Brad Haddin, James Faulkner and substitute Pat Cummins. Credit:AP

No team in the World Cup played with more "passion, excitement, adrenalin" than New Zealand, but the Kiwis explicitly and scrupulously refrained from parlaying that into boorishness. Speaking before their epic semi-final win over South Africa, captain Brendon McCullum said: "Verbals are not part of our game. We're not good enough to focus on that."

In that semi-final, match-winner Grant Elliott went immediately to fallen opponent Dale Steyn to commiserate before rejoicing with teammates. In the final, when Clarke was dismissed moments before the end, four Kiwis put aside their own disappointment to go and shake his hand as he walked off. The contrast with the attitude of the Australians could not have been any sharper. Of course, in the minds of some, the Kiwis were too polite and too deferential, and that made them losers before they began, and the final result was proof of it.

Evidently, Haddin is one. Speaking on minimal sleep on Sydney radio on Monday morning, he said Australia had been discomfited by New Zealand's courtesy when the two played in Auckland earlier in the tournament. "I said in the team meeting, 'I can't stand for this any more, we're going at them as hard as we can', " he said. "It was that uncomfortable. All they were was that nice to us for seven days. I said, 'I'm not playing cricket like this. If we get another crack at these guys in the final I'm letting everything (out)'. "