Australia predictable early favourites for World Cup glory
With the Ashes won, Michael Vaughan has already turned his attention to the 2007 World Cup and England's victory has not surprisingly been noted by the bookmakers
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Australia will defend the trophy they won so convincingly in 1999 and 2003, while the hosts will be hoping home advantage can help them to re-establish themselves among cricket's elite. The likes of England, India, Pakistan and New Zealand will also be itching to get their hands on the Cup.
Let's take a look at the main contenders for the 2007 Cricket World Cup:
AUSTRALIA 2/1 (3.00) ICC Ranking: 1st Statistics can sometimes be misleading but it's hard to argue with Australia being installed as 2/1 (3.00) favourites. Head and shoulders clear at the top of the ICC one-day world rankings, they have won 14 of their past 20 one-day matches and will go into the 2007 competition as the two-time defending champions. The only thing that could go against them is that Glenn McGrath, the outstanding Australian seam bowler of this generation, is likely to be making his final bow. The fixture list, which has them in the Caribbean in 2007 for a Test and One-day series, is in their favour, but their Ashes defeat showed they are no longer unbeatable and that is reflected in their price, which has drifted from 13/8 (2.63).
INDIA 11/2 ICC Ranking: 7th In each of the past three World Cups, India have appeared to have had the perfect team for success, but only in 2003 did they manage to put some results together and make the final, for the first time since their stunning victory in 1983, when they upset the then-mighty West Indies at Lord's. Their top six is still packed full of runs, with the brilliant Tendulkar complemented by Dravid, Laxman and Sehwag. Their bowling has a good mix of youth and experience and the likes of Anil Kumble will be enjoying their last hurrah. If their new coach, Greg Chappell, manages to gel the team, they will be a serious threat.
WEST INDIES 8/1 (9.00) ICC Ranking: 8th Since reaching the semi-finals in 1996, the West Indies have been in almost terminal decline in both forms of the game, but, despite their recent capitulation against South Africa, they have shown signs of improvement in limited overs cricket. Still too reliant on Brian Lara for runs, they need Chanderpaul, Sarwan and Chris Gayle to take more responsibility for the team's success. Their bowling, though, is the main problem, with no one seemingly able to block up one end, let alone make the breakthroughs. Having lost 15 of their past 20 one-day matches, 8/1 does not represent much value, but hosting the tournament should be a huge advantage to them and it's easy to see them making the last four at least, particularly if Lara responds to what is likely to be the last big competition of his magnificent career.
SOUTH AFRICA 7/1 (8.00) ICC Ranking: 5th The only side to really rival Australia for their professional approach to the game in recent years, South Africa are a side in transition but are likely to peak for the competition. The disappointment of what happened in 2003, when their miscalculation of the Duckworth-Lewis method saw them miss out on a semi-final berth, will only spur them on, while in Jacques Kallis they have arguably the best all-rounder in the one-day game. Having routed West Indies 5-0 in their last one-day series, South Africa have now won 13 of their past 20 one-dayers and the chances are they will make the semi-finals at least.
ENGLAND 4/1 (5.00) ICC Ranking: 6th Duncan Fletcher's side has, really for the first time, set its stall out for the 2007 World Cup, determined to make up for their underachievement in a competition they have yet to win. The increased professionalism is paying off, though nine wins out of their past 20 one-day matches is not exactly the form of would-be World Cup winners. Nevertheless, they have a good blend of youth and experience, and, after following the example of Australia with real separation between Test and one-day squads, they are at least talking a good game. Their successes in the West Indies last year and their brilliant victory over the Aussies to win the Ashes can only breed confidence and they are looking strong contenders.
NEW ZEALAND 9/1 (10.00) ICC Ranking: 4th Under the captaincy of Stephen Fleming, New Zealand have excelled in the one-day game, though their semi-final appearance in 1999 remains their best showing at a World Cup. A superb fielding side, the Black Caps are a team full of all-rounders, and they have won 11 and lost just seven of their past 20 games. A lack of strength in depth in the bowling department remains a worry though they have time to put that right. Outsiders for a semi-final berth.
PAKISTAN 11/2 (6.50) ICC Ranking: 3rd Perhaps the dark horses of the competition at this early stage. Pakistan are an enigma - brilliant at times and pathetic at others - but they appear to be getting things right. Inzamam-ul-Haq has been a player transformed by the captaincy and his young side have plenty of talent to succeed. A brilliant come-from-behind series victory in India recently showed the rest what they can do, and they also have a fine World Cup pedigree, having won the trophy in 1992 and reached the finals in 1999.
SRI LANKA 14/1 (15.00) ICC Ranking: 2nd Another side who simply cannot be ruled out, given their love of the one-day game. Fourteen victories in their past 20 have lifted them to second in the ICC rankings, and they know how to get the job done when the World Cup comes round. A semi-final appearance in 2003 was a good effort, while few while forget their amazing victory in 1996 when they romped past the world's best. A few of their top performers may be perhaps past their very best, but underestimate them at your peril.
OTHERS: Zimbabwe: 250-1, ICC Ranking: 9th - Go from bad to worse and no chance of rewarding each-way bets by making the final.
Kenya: 500-1, ICC Ranking: 10th - Reached the semi-finals in 2003 almost by default and not up to this class.
Bangladesh: 500-1: ICC Ranking: 11th - Perhaps the most talented of these three, they could win the odd match.
Simon Cambers is Cricinfo's new betting correspondent
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