Betting Blog
In-form New Zealand 6/1 for World Cup
New Zealand enjoyed a stellar 2014 and have carried that momentum into the new year. They now have their sights on the World Cup and are live contenders on home soil at 6/1.
ESPNcricinfo staff
26-Jan-2015
New Zealand enjoyed a stellar 2014 and have carried that momentum into the new year. They now have their sights on the World Cup and are live contenders on home soil at 6/1.
Their year began by completing a 4-0 demolition of India in an ODI series and they have gone from strength to strength, bouncing back from defeat to South Africa to beat Pakistan before Christmas and recently easily seeing off Sri Lanka, brilliantly led by Kane Williamson with the bat.
New Zealand have got used to winning at home and can carry the feeling into the World Cup. Their superb form combined with excellent record of getting into the latter stages of major tournaments makes 6/1 for New Zealand to win the World Cup attractive.
Full postScorchers well placed at 12/5 to win BBL
The Big Bash League is nearing the business end of the competition and Perth Scorchers appear to offer some value at 12/5 to go on and lift the trophy for the second time in two years.
ESPNcricinfo staff
18-Jan-2015
The Big Bash League is nearing the business end of the competition and Perth Scorchers appear to offer some value at 12/5 to go on and lift the trophy for the second time in two years.
The Scorchers have great pedigree in the tournament, having appeared in all three finals, and are going very well again this year. They are all but assured a home semi-final and can go all the way once again.
Their meeting with top of the table Adelaide resulted in a narrow one wicket defeat and they should be confident of franking that form if the sides meet in the final. They have the two Michaels, Klinger and Carberry, in good form with the bat and crucially, the joint-leading wicket-taker in the competition in Jason Behrendorff. Get behind the Scorchers at 12/5 win this season's BBL.
Full postMorgan 5/1 to lead from the front
England enter a new era in ODI cricket in the opening one-dayer against Australia with Eoin Morgan as their new captain. Back Morgan to lead from the front at 5/1 to be England's top runscorer in the match.
ESPNcricinfo staff
11-Jan-2015
England enter a new era in ODI cricket in the opening one-dayer against Australia with Eoin Morgan as their new captain. Back Morgan to lead from the front at 5/1 to be England's top runscorer in the match.
Morgan has struggled in recent ODI series but in his only match in Sri Lanka as captain, he produced his best innings for many months - a 62 in Colombo - and it continued his trend of much-improved returns as skipper. Morgan averages 71.16 as captain in ODIs, against a career return of 36.51.
Morgan has also had time to acclimatise with a stint in the Big Bash. You can't keep such a talent player down for long and the captaincy can bring the best out of Morgan. Back him a 5/1 for the first ODI to be England's top batsman.
Full postIndia 7/4 for tri-series triumph
World Cup preparation is set to move into full focus with the triangular ODI series between Australia, India and England beginning on January 16. India are the best bet at 7/4 to win the series.
ESPNcricinfo staff
02-Jan-2015
World Cup preparation is set to move into full focus with the triangular ODI series between Australia, India and England beginning on January 16. India are the best bet at 7/4 to win the series.
The Indians are well acclimitised having been down under for the Test series. Their recent form is also excellent having beaten Sri Lanka 5-0 - albeit at home. Doubts remain about India's bowling attack - particularly how effective their spinners will be in Australia - but their batting line up can power them past almost any target.
England are surely not good enough to make an impact on the series. Australia are short-priced favourites in home conditions but may struggle against high-class spin bowling. Get behind India at 7/4 to win the series.
Full postAussies 6/5 to rumble on to 4-0
Australia have asserted their dominance over India perhaps earlier than some expected in this series and now they are perfectly placed to carry their form into the final two Tests. 6/5 is a skinny price about a 4-0 series win but Australia are now on a ro
ESPNcricinfo staff
21-Dec-2014
Australia have asserted their dominance over India perhaps earlier than some expected in this series and now they are perfectly placed to carry their form into the final two Tests. 6/5 is a skinny price about a 4-0 series win but Australia are now on a roll.
The way they were crumbled in the second innings in Brisbane was a concerning sign for India and Australia appear to have really found their stride, showing no effects of the emotional turmoil following Phillip Hughes' death.
India were very well placed in Brisbane but the hosts took the game completely away from them. It is sure to have left psychological damage and Australia now hold all the aces heading to the Melbourne and Sydney Tests. Australia are big favourites to clean up 4-0 so back them at 6/5 to do so.
Full postSmith 4/1 to carry form to Brisbane
Steve Smith has matured quickly as a Test batsman and is now a crucial pin in Australia's middle order. Back him at 4/1 to be Australia's top batsman in the second Test in Brisbane.
ESPNcricinfo staff
15-Dec-2014
Steve Smith has matured quickly as a Test batsman and is now a crucial pin in Australia's middle order. Back him at 4/1 to be Australia's top batsman in the second Test in Brisbane.
Since the third Ashes Test of 2013, Smith has been in outstanding form, averaging 59.80 across 14 Tests with five centuries. His runs have come against leading Test sides South Africa and England and even on Australia's difficult trip in the Middle East he managed two half-centuries.
Smith enjoyed his first look at the Indian bowling attack with a Test-best 162 not out in the first-innings in Adelaide and followed up with an unbeaten half-century in the second. He is well-placed to follow up with a strong showing in Brisbane.
Full postAustralia 6/1 for 3-1 India triumph
It is set to be a very emotional series but the show must go on and Australia and India should produce a cracking matchup. But the hosts should prove too strong and are 6/1 for a 3-1 victory.
ESPNcricinfo staff
04-Dec-2014
It is set to be a very emotional series but the show must go on and Australia and India should produce a cracking matchup. But the hosts should prove too strong and are 6/1 for a 3-1 victory.
India are perennial poor travellers, as their capitulation in England last summer showed, and away to Australia is the toughest assignment in world cricket. But they did nick the Lord's Test and they have enough class to push Australia hard.
But the Aussies, fuelled by the inspiration of Phillip Hughes' death, still posses perhaps the best quick bowling line up in world cricket and provided they avoid disaster with the bat they should run out winners by a margin. Back them at 6/1 to prevail 3-1.
Full postEngland 3/1 for narrow SL surprise
As is traditional for an England tour party to the subcontinent, little is expected, particularly in one-day cricket. But coming up against under-cooked Sri Lankans they have a chance and are 3/1 to win the series 4-3.
ESPNcricinfo staff
24-Nov-2014
As is traditional for an England tour party to the subcontinent, little is expected, particularly in one-day cricket. But coming up against under-cooked Sri Lankans this England side have a chance and are 3/1 to win the series 4-3.
Questions of course remain of England's ability to play the turning ball but one-day wickets in Sri Lanka do not spin that much and damp conditions - it is monsoon season - will also play into their hands. They began their tour with an impressive warm-up victory with Moeen Ali in good touch.
Their opposition had their preparation for this series torn apart by an impromptu trip to India that left them without any skills training. A 5-0 whitewash will also have done nothing for their preparation to face England who can spring a 4-3 surprise at 3/1.
*Betting on a seven-match series correct score will be void in the event of an abandoned match.
Full postSouth Africa 12/5 to edge one-day series
Having been touched off at the death in the T20 series, South Africa will again prove very competitive in Australia in ODI cricket and can be backed at 12/5 to edge the five-match series 3-2.
ESPNcricinfo staff
10-Nov-2014
Having been touched off at the death in the T20 series, South Africa will again prove very competitive in Australia in ODI cricket and can be backed at 12/5 to edge the five-match series 3-2.
The Proteas have an excellent record in ODIs in Australia - having won 16 and tied one of their 31 matches since readmission. They also won their last ODI series in Australia, in 2009 - one of only two teams to beat Australia at home in their last nine series.
The tourists boast the top two ranked batsman in ODIs - AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla - and also have perhaps the world's leading bowler in Dale Steyn in their ranks. They are a very dangerous side who will enjoy Australian conditions and are 12/5 to claim another famous series win 3-2.
Full postAustralia 4/1 for T20 series sweep
Australia can lick their wounds from a difficult tour of the Middle East with a T20 series back at home against South Africa. The Aussies should be too strong and are 4/1 to sweep the series 3-0.
ESPNcricinfo staff
31-Oct-2014
Australia can lick their wounds from a difficult tour of the Middle East with a T20 series back at home against South Africa. The Aussies should be too strong and are 4/1 to sweep the series 3-0.
They may have struggled at the World T20 in Bangladesh but back in familiar conditions, the Australian power should come to the fore and they have the ability to blow the Proteas away - as they did the last time the teams met in South Africa earlier in the year.
Australia have only lost six of the 21 T20s they have played at home and comfortably saw off England in their last home T20 series. South Africa will provide a sterner Test but expect Australia to prevail and back the 3-0 series score at 4/1.
Full post