Factbox: Australia vs. Pakistan

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -- Factbox on the World Cup Group A match between Australia and Pakistan on Tuesday:

TEAMS: Defending champions Australia are universally regarded as the world's best but mercurial Pakistan, the 1999 finalists, are arguably the most naturally talented. Australia bristle with fast-scoring batsmen, led by explosive openers Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, and their potent seam attack is backed up by the leg spin of Shane Warne, man-of-the-match at the 1999 final. Pakistan will rely heavily on their bowlers. It may be an aging attack but has huge variety, including Shoaib Akhtar's sheer pace, Wasim Akram's left-arm quick and Saqlain Mushtaq's off spin.

FORMWATCH: Australia are in prime form, having crushed England and Sri Lanka at home in a triangular one-day series to complete a run of 15 wins in 17 matches. They hammered South Africa 5-1 at home early last year.

Pakistan, in contrast, lost six out of 10 one-dayers, as well exiting the Champions Trophy at the first hurdle, before coach Mudazzar Nazar was sacked in September. They whitewashed Zimbabwe away but lost a World Cup warm-up 4-1 to South Africa.

HEAD-TO-HEADS: Australia have won five of their last 10 games against Pakistan dating back to June last year, with two of the meetings abandoned. Australia's last two victories were by nine wickets and by 224 runs.

KEY PLAYERS: Australia -- Brett Lee, consistently the quickest bowler in the world, has emerged as a trump card in Australia's bid to win the title for a record third time. Demonstrated his lethal finishing touch by spearheading the team to victory over England and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan -- Wasim, making his swansong in his fifth World Cup, is the world's leading wicket-taker in one-day internationals with 490. As controversial as he is gifted, he remains one of the finest exponents of reverse-swing and is able to produce a well-disguised faster ball.

PREVIOUS WORLD CUPS: Holders Australia won the trophy for the first time in 1987 and, having achieved runners-up spots in 1975 and 1996, are the only country to have reached the final on four occasions.

Pakistan won in 1992 against England after bouncing back from a poor start to the tournament. In the 1999 final they crashed to Australia by eight wickets. Semi-finalists in 1979, 1983 and 1987, as well as quarter-finalists in 1996.

VENUE: The Wanderers, which stages the final on March 23, hosted its first test in 1957 between South Africa and England. The stadium was completely overhauled following South Africa's readmission to international cricket in 1991. Popularly known as the "Bull Ring" with its cauldron atmosphere. Staged a 1980 rugby union test between South Africa and New Zealand.