Twenty20 World Cup betting - Australia look to justify favourites tag

Story by Harry Maude on 2010-04-27 14:20:09

After the excitement and controversy of this year`s IPL, Twenty20 cricket fanatics still have plenty to look forward to with the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies. Pakistan won this tournament last year, and with their players not having played in the IPL, they will need to play themselves into form in their warm-up games if they are to challenge again.

The English players were impressive in the IPL, with Kevin Pietersen finishing with an average of 59, and captain Paul Collingwood averaging 40.60 for the Delhi Daredevils. Opener Michael Lumb was impressive enough for the Rajasthan Royals that he earned an England call-up, and Ravi Bopara returns to the fold after his performances for the Kings XI Punjab.

Australia are the favourites for the tournament, priced at 7/2 with Ladbrokes (bet $20 to make $70 profit). Unfortunately for them the best Australian performers in the IPL have all retired, with Andrew Symonds, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist all with strong showings. Surprisingly, Doug Bollinger, who was a key part of the Chennai Super Kings` run to the title, has not been included in Australia`s squad. Bollinger took 12 wickets in the IPL, only conceding 6.67 runs per over. Australia are in a group with last year`s winners Pakistan and Bangladesh.

India look like a better bet to win the tournament, priced at 9/2. Their batting line-up looks to be the best in the tournament, with MS Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh providing huge firepower for the 2007 champions. They will, however, be missing World Cricketer of the Year Virender Sehwag, who suffered a shoulder injury while in action for the Delhi Daredevils.  They are in Group C along with South Africa and minnows Afghanistan.

South Africa are the third favourites, priced at 5/1, and they will be looking to go one better than last year, when they lost to Pakistan in the semi-final. Their challenge will by captain Graeme Smith, who will be ably supported by Jacques Kallis, who was in fantastic form in the IPL, coming second to Sachin Tendulkar in the run-scoring chart.

If India boast the most explosive batting line-up, then the award for most feared bowling must go to Sri Lanka. Lasith Malinga will be deadly at the death of the innings, and opposing batsmen will also have to face spin-kings Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis. Sri Lanka reached the final last year, and are priced at 6/1 with Skybet to win this year.

The West Indies would love to triumph in front of their home fans, and the bookies rate them as 10/1 shots to win. With big hitters like Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard, they are definitely capable of setting big totals, but their bowling could let them down.

England are best priced at 11/1 for the tournament, and could have a say in the final proceedings if their big players are on song. New Zealand and Pakistan are both 12/1 shots, and Bangladesh are at 66/1 with William Hill. Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan are seen as massive outsiders, and are priced at 300/1, 500/1 and 1000/1 respectively.

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