World Cup final: the experts' opinions

Three-times World Cup winner Adam Gilchrist

"I hope Australia win and I do think the boys will get there. I think they had a really solid test in the quarter-final," Gilchrist told Dead Set Legends on Triple M.

"They've sort of stumbled across this line-up and they're well-balanced now. They pretty much totally outplayed India in the semi and they're peaking very nicely.

"The bowling line-ups match up really evenly. New Zealand do have a world-class spinner in Dan Vettori, but I don't think that's going to be a massive advantage on the MCG.

"But Australia have greater depth in the batting.

"Yes, New Zealand beat Australia in that match in Auckland, but I think they came away with more emotional scarring and psychological scarring than the two points might have justified.

"The way Starc tore them up, they won't be looking forward to facing him and Mitch Johnson has his confidence up too."

Beaten semi-finalist India captain MS Dhoni

"In the shorter format it's all about that particular day, which team plays better cricket," Dhoni said after India's 95-run loss to Australia in their semi-final.

"(Daniel) Vettori's performance will be crucial because he's somebody in the middle overs who can really get wickets.

"He is not someone that you can easily score off or play the big shots to. He will be the key factor." 

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Australian Test bowler Ryan Harris

"I think Australia will win, and the reason I’m so confident is the form and firepower of their three fast bowlers," Ryno wrote in his cricket.com.au blog this weekend.

"The most encouraging thing for Australia has been that Mitchell Johnson probably hasn’t been at his best so far in the tournament and, even though he’s still bowled quickly and has suffered more than his share of bad luck with some guys playing a few big shots off him, he is just starting to hit his straps.

"Both finalists are really evenly matched … but I think we’re the better team, although I’m obviously a little biased."

1999 World Cup-winning captain Steve Waugh

"I wouldn't be putting money on either side because I think they're both entitled to be pretty confident, but they'd both be apprehensive," Waugh told Triple M's Dead Set Legends.

"I'm just looking forward to a really great game and the spirit of the ANZACs should be out there given it is 100 years since Gallipoli. So it's meant to be." 

Highlights: Smith century steers Aussies to final

Former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming

The former Black Caps captain will see plenty of the MCG next summer as head coach of the Melbourne Stars. He predicts Australia's familiarity with the ground could be enough to give them the edge.

"Brendon McCullum’s men can win, but as to whether they will, that is absolutely in the balance with the odds favouring Australia – but only just," wrote Fleming on cricket.com.au.

"That is not some Kiwi self-deprecation on my part, but rather an acknowledgement that Michael Clarke’s side has a slight advantage because they know the conditions better than the Black Caps. That stands to reason, of course.

"The Melbourne Cricket Ground is a home venue for them, after all, and although a drop-in pitch nullifies that advantage to a degree, it means the Australians will still have a command of things as subtle as the effect of the wind or the angles of the playing arena."

Two-time World Cup-winning captain Ricky Ponting

"They are both very good teams, but if you just saw them on paper and if you try and see weaknesses in the Australian team, I am not sure where you find one," Ponting told ESPNcricinfo.

"Their top-order batting is brilliant, their new-ball bowling is brilliant, their allrounders are some of the best in the world and they are going to play at the MCG, where they know the conditions really well.

"That's not saying New Zealand can't win, we have seen how good a brand of cricket they can play, but I've just got a feeling that the Aussies won't let a moment like a World Cup final at home slip." 

West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards

"The talk about New Zealand being the little brother, be careful those guys don't become the big brother," warned Sir Viv on SEN.

"They're pretty confident at the moment.

"One little thing I'll put in to the mix is this – they have played all their matches in New Zealand, this is a huge one match outside of New Zealand, at the MCG.

"I've backed Australia from the beginning and I don't think there's any reason to change.

"What Australia have got to be aware of is if they have a bad day New Zealand have the personnel to capitalise on that. But I think Australia will be too huge on the day for NZ."

Sir Richard Hadlee

Perhaps unsurprisingly, New Zealand's greatest cricketer (and current New Zealand Cricket board member) is pinning his hopes on a Black Caps victory he says would be equal of any sporting achievement in the country's history.

"They have an opportunity to create history in our game, which means they will never ever be forgotten," Hadlee told Fairfax.

"It's like the rugby when they won it in '87, they've won it twice, we're yet to do it. You look at the America's Cup, great moment in our sporting history, win the cricket World Cup and it'll be right up there with our greatest ever achievements."

2003 World Cup winner Andy Bichel

"Trent Boult and Tim Southee have been excellent up front with the new ball, so they will enjoy the extra bounce from the MCG wicket," Bichel told cricketworldcup.com

"Brendon McCullum has attacked the quickies at the top of order like no other. If he can get the Kiwis off to another flying start, it will help them structure their innings.

"But they are going to have to fight like anything to beat Australia, who are playing with plenty of confidence and based on (their semi-final), the deliverance under pressure will hold them in good stead." 

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Former Australia captain Ian Chappell

"(Australia) have had more match-winners then any of the other teams in the comp. And eventually that's a deciding factor because it means you're not relying on the same people all the time to do the damage for you, the load's spread a bit," Chappell told Fox Sports.

"India suddenly got four wickets there in the middle, they looked like they were getting back into the game, but this Australian line-up, both batting and bowling, just keeps coming at you and at you asking you questions.

"And eventually, you haven't got an answer for them and I think New Zealand will be in the same boat."

Michael Holding, former West Indies fast bowler turned commentator

"I think what New Zealand will be hoping for is that they can attack the fifth bowler. Maxwell and Watson can get attacked and they can go for quite a few," Holding told Fox Sports.

"They'll be hoping also that Brendon McCullum can bat for a long time. He'll come out all guns blazing at the top of the order as usual and if he can bat for 20 overs that could be dangerous."

Former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith

"It all sets up to be a cracker of a game but with the history of World Cup finals being relatively one-sided, I’m hoping this match bucks the trend," Smith wrote for cricketworldcup.com.

"Regardless of the outcome, we as neutrals can only hope for a game deserving of a World Cup Final.

"The Kiwi’s will need to have a plan on how to get rid of in-form Steve Smith. The kid has in the last 12 months shown what a talented player he is. As a result the Australians have improved drastically and gone from strength to strength.

"The question now becomes, who can perform better on the day? I have no doubt that neither team will leave anything out on the MCG. It may simply come down to a special individual performance or a costly error, that sees the trophy remain in Melbourne or make its way across the Tasman."