Cricket World Cup preview

TOURNAMENT FAVOURITES India are 1/8 to get off the mark in their opening World Cup game against Bangladesh.

The co-hosts are 5/1 to win the curtain raiser and India remain the 3/1 favourites for the tournament despite a single bet of £82k from a Ladbrokes customer as the firm maintain their top price guarantee until the start of the tournament.*

In the other opening matches, England are 1/25 to overcome Holland (9/1) with Sri Lanka (2/5) against the West Indies (2/1) the closest match according to the odds. India’s Sachin Tendulkar is the 12/1 favourite for the top bat with Jonathon Trott the shortest priced England batsmen at 20/1. Lasith Malinga is the 12/1 market leader for top wicket taker from Brett Lee at 16/1 leaving England’s shortest priced bowler Stuart Broad at 20/1.

Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said:”We’re cheering on every one of India’s opponents but don’t expect Bangladesh to cause any problems at this stage. Punters will go through the card in the opening matches for their banker accumulators so we’re hoping Holland can spring another World Cup surprise against England.”

Ladbrokes latest betting

Winner

India – 3/1
Sri Lanka – 9/2
South Africa – 11/2
Australia – 6/1
England – 9/1
Pakistan – 8/1
New Zealand – 22/1
West Indies – 22/1
Bangladesh – 50/1
Zimbabwe – 500/1
Ireland – 1000/1
Kenya – 2000/1
Holland – 2000/1
Canada – 2000/1

Top tournament runscorer
S R Tendulkar – 12/1
M Amla – 12/1
V Sehwag – 16/1
S Watson – 16/1
J Trott – 20/1
R Ponting – 20/1
T Dilshan – 20/1
G Gambhir – 25/1
K Sangakkara – 25/1
V Kohli – 25/1
J Kallis – 25/1
C Gayle – 25/1
G Smith – 25/1
K Pietersen – 25/1
T Iqbal – 25/1
M Jayawardene – 33/1
A Strauss – 33/1
U Tharanga – 33/1
AB de Villiers – 33/1

Top tournament wicket taker
L Malinga – 12/1
B Lee – 16/1
D Steyn – 16/1
S Tait – 16/1
H Singh – 20/1
A Mendis – 20/1
S C L Broad – 20/1
M Morkel – 20/1
U Gul – 20/1
M Muralitharan – 20/1
Z Khan – 20/1

Match odds

Bangladesh – 5/1
India – 1/8

Kenya – 7/1
New Zealand – 1/12

Sri Lanka – 1/50
Canada – 12/1

Australia – 1/16
Zimbabwe – 8/1

England – 1/25
Holland – 9/1

South Africa – 2/5
West Indies – 2/1

* Compared to Hillls, Coral, Bet365 & Paddy Power- please see site for full details