суббота, 7 февраля 2015 г.

Australia favourites to lift fifth title

Cricket bettors' focus will be on the 2015 Cricket World Cup when it starts on February 14th. This Cricket World Cup betting preview looks at the format and the betting market before a ball has been bowled.

Cricket World Cup Format

The latest edition of the Cricket World Cup is jointly hosted again by Australia and New Zealand for the first time since 1992. Six intense weeks of competition will feature 49 thrilling matches for cricket bettors to bet on.

The 2015 Cricket World Cup format consists of two groups, with seven teams in each group. They will play each other once, with the top four in each group progressing through to the Cricket World Cup quarterfinals – a knockout stage from there until the final on March 29th.

Pool A

Pool B

England

South Africa

Australia

India

Sri Lanka

Pakistan

Bangladesh

West Indies

New Zealand

Zimbabwe

Afghanistan

Ireland

Scotland

UAE

2015 Cricket World Cup odds make Australia favourites

Ever since the last World Cup ended, teams have been scrutinised as cricket bettors attempt to gauge which nation are best shaped to lift the 2015 Cricket World Cup. We give a rundown of how strong the main contenders look as they prepare to battle for the title.

Australia

Odds: 2.889

Australia lead the cricket World Cup betting market as the 2.889 favourites. These odds give the ODI number 1 team an impressive 34.61% chance of lifting a fifth Cricket World Cup.

The Aussies play 'hard' cricket, fight for every ball and are efficient in the field. In addition they have one of the best squad compositions comprising of fast bowlers, all-rounders and stroke players.

A prime example is their death bowling. ODI's can often be decided in the final 10 overs, and no one has performed better at this in the last 12 months than the co-hosts. Their bowling attack is arguably the best in the tournament, while their batting is of the highest pedigree, which is typified by stand-in skipper Steve Smith who has enjoyed a golden summer Down Under with over 1200 international runs.

The only worry is the fitness problems of James Faulkner who picked up an injury in the final of the Carlton Mid series. He is a great death overs bowler and one of the best finishers at present in World cricket. Injury concerns also remain over captain Michael Clarke who is still an uncertainty to play in the World Cup.

With home advantage, a team littered with match winners and having not lost a home series since 2011 can anyone stop Australia lifting the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

South Africa

Odds: 3.840

Incredibly despite looking fantastic heading into nearly all ODI Cricket World Cups South Africa have never won, some down to bad luck and some due to them choking on the big stage.

They are second favourites at 3.840 with Pinnacle Sports to lift the title, which gives them an implied probability of 26.04%.

Once more, they have a formidable team with Faf du Plessis and AB De Villiers in the form of their life. Hashim Amla has been prolific with his run making, while David Miller has been a brutal lower order batsman.

In addition to their solid batting, they have an impressive bowling line-up. Dale Steyn has been the leading fast bowler in the world for the last seven years and will spearhead the attack alongside Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and the spin of Imran Tahir.

Can the South Africans finally shake off the tag of, “chokers,” they have acquired having reached the semi-finals in all six tournaments they have played in, or will bad luck and nerves get the better of them again?

New Zealand

Odds: 6.120

Co-hosts New Zealand are always considered dark horses in any World Cup and they have an excellent record of reaching the knockout series at the World Cup – eight times out of ten and the last six.

Pinnacle Sports give the Kiwis a 16.34% chance of winning making them third favourites, as they enter the tournament in perilous form winning three of their last four ODI series.  

The Black Caps are an outstanding unit in all disciplines and have a real team ethic about their approach, and a healthy mix of youth and experience.

Experienced bowlers such as Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, Trent Boult and Kyle Mills will rely on their knowledge of home conditions to run through the opposition batsman, and batsman Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor are in frightening form with the bat.

New Zealand will be the one of the most dangerous sides of the tournament if they play to their potential, they could they lift their first Cricket World Cup title.

India

Odds: 8.510

Defending champions India are priced at 8.510 giving them a mere 11.75% chance of retaining the title. However given their poor away win percentage, and recent struggles in Oceania, they are perhaps overvalued.

India's poor form is highlighted having failed to win a game in Australia since arriving a couple of months ago. Injuries to key players such as Rohit and Ishant Sharma will harm their chances further.

As a batting unit India have perhaps the best in the tournament, however they have failed miserably so far on the Australian tracks, as they attempt to adapt to the faster and bouncier wickets.

In terms of bowling, their pace attack is toothless and despite having quality spin resources, opposition batsman are expected to nullify them on the quicker surfaces.

The reality is, India’s only chance is to bat teams out of the game, as their bowling attack is simply not suited to Oceanic wickets.

England

Odds: 10.640

Like South Africa England have also failed to win the ODI Cricket World Cup and odds of 10.640 suggest they are a long shot to upset the odds in Australia.

England performed well in parts during the Carlton Mid Series but were easily outplayed by Australia. Given they have lost Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen who were two of their heaviest runscorers in the world, they appear to be lacking depth in the batting department.

Unless Ian Bell, Joe Root or Eoin Morgan scores runs, they have been prone to collapsing against the better teams. However they are more aggressive as a batting unit.

As a bowling attack James Anderson and Steven Finn lead them, but despite performing well recently, they can be exposed against the elite teams. 

Pakistan & Sri Lanka

Both Pakistan 14.130 and Sri Lanka 11.260 are outsiders to lift the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

The Pakistanis open their campaign off against India, an opponent remarkably they are yet to beat in ODI World Cup cricket. They are without their premiere spinner Ajmal, and will rely heavily on Misbah-ul Haq and Younis Khan to score their runs.

Despite reaching the final of the last two World Cups, Sri Lanka are not fancied to win. Sachithra Senanayake has been banned for his bowling action and will be closely watched during the World Cup, while stalwart Lasith Malinga is short of his best form. An overreliance on Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene to score their runs, could also prove costly.

Click here for the latest Cricket World Cup odds.

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