England's resurgence puts them back at the top of the field

Normal service resumed? For England and for the bookmakers? It would appear so after a cathartic week at the Cricket World Cup.

Faced with elimination after three untimely defeats in their first seven matches, England showed their full credentials with two impressive wins over India at Edgbaston and New Zealand at Chester-le-Street.

Though it helped that they batted first in both games, the manner in which Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy set the agenda for England has doubtless helped to settle the nerves among the odds-setters, who have decreed that England are back as the tournament favourites - now priced at 15/8 in a field that has shrunk to just five remaining teams.

Australia have been the most quietly impressive side in this competition, rising from pre-tournament obscurity to seal the first semi-final berth, and at 2/1 they are the second favourites, with Mitchell Starc's phenomenal wicket-taking prowess confirming they are firmly in the running to add to their record five World Cup titles.

India were outright favourites going into that England match last week - and had also vaulted briefly to the top of the ICC world rankings. But they have slipped back to 9/4, after their middle-order stalled fatally in the latter stages of the run-chase at Edgbaston.

Further back are the two remaining World Cup outsiders. New Zealand are coming off three defeats in a row, as their previously serene campaign hit the buffers against Pakistan, Australia and England, and they are now a relatively distant 8/1 to go one better than they managed in 2015, and claim their first World Cup title.

And for the rest of the morning at least, Pakistan are still not quite out of the hunt. They need to beat Bangladesh by something in the region of 316 runs to leapfrog New Zealand in the final World Cup semi slot. But at least they are batting first at Lord's. Their 150/1 price seems a touch stingy, but reflects how dangerous they could actually be if they can pull off a miracle and reach the final four.