South Africa to break ODI hodoo in ICC Champions Trophy?

Another week another Cricket competition, no wait comeback as I promise you this is a good one. It pitches the eight top teams in the world in the ICC Champions Trophy. Here is our guide to the tournament and the best of the bets.

South Africa are the 4/1 (GENERAL) favourites to win the final ever ICC Champions Trophy and rightly so as they are in great ODI form losing just three of their last 12 series in this format. The price though looks a little short when you consider the fact this side has never won the ODI World Cup. Throw in the absence of Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith and you have reasons to look around elsewhere for better value. Australia are the next in the market and are 11/2 (STAN JAMES/ladbrokes) to win the tournament for a third straight time. This is clearly a side for the big occasion as they have also made the final in four of the last six ODI World Cups. Asutralia command respect though it is not their strongest lineup and a lot depends on the form of Shane Watson.

England are 11/2 (sportingbet) to win the trophy though it is hard to side with them after the way they performed against New Zealand . The possible absence of Stuart Broad and Steven Finn will hit the hosts hard and they look worth opposing. ladbrokes are offering 11/8 England that go out in the group stage and considering New Zealand have already taken them apart twice this looks value. The West Indies are 9/1 (ladbrokes) and any side with Chris Gayle is capable of performing on the day though this format is a little too long for most of their players.

New Zealand are the 12/1 (GENERAL) outsiders and I could not put anyone of backing them at this price. The Black Caps showed against England they have the players for this format of the game and look a great back to lay option.

I was deciding between three teams to back for the tournament, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan before stumbling upon a market entitled continent of the winner. In this market I can get all three of the sides mentioned for 13/8 (paddy Power/william hill) and this seems a great win to play this. The last five ODI World Cup finals have featured at least one of these three sides (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka).

As well as team glory the race is on for the individual honours including top batsman and top bowler. Those looking for a bet on the top bowler will see the market is headed by Lasith Malinga and Dale Steryn both of whom can be backed at 12/1 (GENERAL) while James Anderson is a 14/1 (SKYBET/sportingbet/BETVICTOR) chance.

Hashim Amla is the 10/1 (STAN JAMES/CORAL) favourite to be top batsman ahead of Chris Gayle (STAN JAMES/888 SPORT), Shane Watson (GENERAL) and Alastair Cook (SKYBET) all of whom are 12/1. Of those four Amla and Watson look the most dangerous though I quite like the each-way chances of AB de Villers at 20/1 (sportingbet/paddy Power). The South African captain will bat at number four and has an impressive one day average of 54.5 in the last 12 months.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Asia to be the winning continent, 13/8 (paddy Power/william hill)
SILVER: England to be eliminated in the group stages, 11/8 (ladbrokes)
BRONZE: AB de Villers top Tournament batsman, 20/1 (SPORTINGBET/paddy Power)

Go To bet365

#Ad

05/06/2013     © Frixo 2026