Australia have home advantage in World Cup final with New Zealand

They say ‘home is where the heart is’, and New Zealand (7/4 chances) have certainly taken advantage of their co-hosting this World Cup, as they have put in some spirited displays and are the only side that are undefeated.

However, they will have to leave the comfort of their home nest for the final showdown to face bitter rivals Australia (odds-on 4/9 favourites) at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), in a match that will certainly unnerve them.

But much like their hobbit counterparts (the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed in New Zealand) the Black Caps are certainly capable of battling against the odds on their quest for glory on hostile territory.

The duo have already faced each other this World Cup in Pool A, with the Kiwis winning on home turf in Auckland by one wicket but with 161 balls remaining.

That suggests that their batsmen will have to be on top form if they are to have any chance of lifting their first World Cup trophy on the biggest stage of cricket at the MCG, which can hold up to 100k fans.

Super smashers such as skipper Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson will have to up their game even further due to the large boundary too.

Guptill, who hit an unbeaten 237 against the West Indies in the quarter-finals, has 532 runs these finals so far, and is just nine behind leader Kumar Sangakkara. You can back him at an enticing 7/2 to be best batsman for New Zealand once more, while McCullum, who top scored against Australia in the group stages, and Williamson are 10/3 and 7/2 respectively.

Trent Boult has also had a terrific tournament to date, as he has taken the most amount of wickets (21), at an average of 15.76. He is a 9/4 chance to be best bowler for the Kiwis.