Australians dominate NatWest series player markets

Australia captain Ricky Ponting, perhaps smarting from a Twenty20 defeat at the hands of England on Monday, gets an early chance for revenge when the NatWest Series, a triangular competition also involving Bangladesh, begins on Thursday.

The skipper is a 5/1 (6.00) joint favourite with slasher Adam Gilchrist and Marcus Trescothick to be the series' top batsman, while Brett Lee, who will be hoping to impress in an effort to break back into the Test team, tops the bowling markets at 3/1 (4.00).

Not surprisingly, Australians dominate the markets, and while it's perhaps a little small-minded to ignore the claims of the Bangladesh players, stats and common sense suggest that it would take a miracle for any of them to top either market.

Without looking at the statistics, I'd hazard a guess that most people would plump for Gilchrist, a destructive presence at the top of the order, who can render any attack virtually toothless with his seemingly endless array of shotmaking. However, the left-hander has a surprisingly poor record in one-day matches. Averaging 35.55 overall, his average in his last 20 matches slips to 32, and his average against England is a modest 34. Not bad, but 5/1 is no value, particularly as he's admitted to feeling rusty so far on tour.

The same goes for Trescothick, on paper at least, who averages just 36.51, and just 29.20 in his last 20 matches. HIs average against Australia is 32, though it does improve to 41 at home. Of the three, Ponting is statistically the best, averaging 42.25, more than decent in one-day cricket. Against England it's even better at 44, and he's enjoyed his few matches against the old enemy in England, with a whopping average of 74.

Matthew Hayden is an 11/2 (6.50) chance, Kevin Pietersen a 17/2 (9.50) shot, Andy Flintoff 10/1 (11.00) and Michael Clarke and Damien Martyn 11/1 (12.00) chances. Of those, Damien Martyn is the best bet, averaging 41.71, 45.07 in his last 20 and 68.22 against England, stats which compare favourably to any of his rivals. For the record, Andrew Strauss and Michael Vaughan are 12/1 (13.00) apiece, while Andrew Symonds is 16/1 (17.00).

Cambers' Choice: Damien Martyn 11/1 (12.00)

Bowler markets
As said, Brett Lee is the favourite at 3/1 (4.00), but that's a big surprise given the past 18 months in which he's struggled with his run-up and action. A tally of 186 wickets at 22.17 is a good return, however, and his pace will give England problems, if he plays throughout.

The brilliant Glenn McGrath, a 9/2 (5.50) chance, has taken 315 wickets at 22.05 and he's bound to be right up there in the wickets at the end. In his last 20 matches, he's taken 31 wickets at 19.03 and he loves the English conditions.

Jason Gillespie, who's taken 134 wickets at 23.94, is an 11/2 (6.50) chance, while his record in his past 20 matches is even better, with 34 victims at 19.58. Veteran seamer Michael Kasprowicz just about edges him in the last 20, with 36 wickets at 18.33, and he's the current favourite with the Australian selectors, which makes the 6/1 (7.00) on offer a tempting price.

Darren Gough, who has shown good form in the early part of the season, is 13/2 (7.50), having taken 225 wickets in one-day internationals. In his last 20, he's managed 33. Andy Flintoff, a 12/1 (13.00) shot, is economical but perhaps doesn't take enough wickets to triumph in this win-only market. In his last 20, he's managed just 26.

Cambers' Choice: Michael Kasprowicz 6/1 (7.00)