Australia heavy favourites

Australia may have shocked some parts of the cricket world by actually losing a couple of one-day games in the past few weeks but they are still huge favourites, at 1/4 (1.25) to beat Sri Lanka in the first match of the best-of-three final on Friday.

Ricky Ponting's side are without Glenn McGrath, who's taken some time off to be with his wife Jane, who was recently diagnosed with cancer for a third time, and they will be weaker for his absence.

However, bet365 clearly think they will be too strong for Sri Lanka, who squeezed into the final at the expense of South Africa, thanks mainly to a 76-run win over their rivals in Hobart on Tuesday.

That did little to appease bet365 though, and the Sri Lankans are 11/4 (3.75) to come out on top at the Adelaide Oval - a venue where they have lost six out of six previous one-dayers to the Aussies.

Adam Gilchrist, who stormed back to form with an outstanding century earlier in the series, is favourite at 100/30 (4.33) to be Australia's top runscorer in Adelaide. One word of caution, though. Despite the fact that he is well capable of hitting form at any time, he averages just 31 at the Adelaide Oval.

Ponting, fresh from winning the Allan Border Medal for his country's best player over the past 12 months, is next at 7/2 (4.50) but he has an even worse average in Adelaide, way down at 22.

Martyn the man in Adelaide?
On the other hand, Damien Martyn, surely one of the most under-rated batsmen in world cricket, is 5/1 (6.00) and must have a great chance on his previous Adelaide form. In eight matches there, he averages 69, having made three half-centuries. Admittedly, his average is helped by three not-outs, but the point stands.

Simon Katich is also 5/1 (6.00), big-hitting Andrew Symonds is 11/2 (6.50), Michael Hussey is 11/2 (6.50) and Michael Clarke a big price to come good at 8/1 (9.00).

For Sri Lanka, bet365 have gone with their in-form batsman, Kumar Sangakkara, making him their 7/2 (4.50) favourite, just ahead of captains past and present, Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu.

Mahela Jayawardene is next at 9/2 (5.50) while Upul Tharanga is 11/2 (6.50) and Tillekeratne Dilshan is 6/1 (7.00).

If Sri Lanka are to have any chance of victory, they probably need to bat first, in which case it could be worth backing them at 6/4 (2.50) to outscore Australia in the first 10 overs of the innings.