Value to be found in player markets

Ricky Ponting's record against West Indies sees him top his team's batting market © Getty Images

Unless you have plenty of money to spare, Australia are virtually unbackable to win the first Test against West Indies, which starts on Thursday in Brisbane. Odds of 2/7 (1.28) might appear on the stingy side but this series looks set to be completely one-sided, so it's actually not that bad. West Indies are 9/1 (10.00) while the draw is 18/5 (4.60), but most of the value, as so often, is in the individual player markets.

Australia's batsmen will probably be licking their lips at the thought of a pretty toothless West Indies bowling attack and not surprisingly, captain Ricky Ponting heads the betting with bet365 at 100/30 (4.33). Ponting showed his class with the bat even in defeat in the Ashes, and since he averages 61 against West Indies, compared to his already excellent 55 overall, he is a worthy favourite.

Justin Langer, who is doubtful because of a fractured rib, is next at 7/2 (4.50), while Matthew Hayden, who can bludgeon any attack on his day, is 4/1 (5.00). Michael Clarke and Simon Katich, both in the runs recently in domestic cricket, are next at 11/2 (6.50) and 6/1 (7.00) respectively. And Adam Gilchrist, as usual, is better value than you'd expect, at 13/2 (7.50). His price is purely because he bats at seven, but that shouldn't put anyone off. He, too, has a liking for West Indies bowlers, with an average of 58 against them, six better than his overall mark.

For West Indies, Brian Lara is a big favourite at (11/4) 3.75. The brilliant left-hander struggled during the Super Series matches, but I doubt that will be too relevant here. Lara averages 53 overall, and 50 against Australia, which, given the strength of the Australia attack, is a fabulous effort, and though it drops to just under 39 in Australia, he must have happy memories of some of his greatest innings, not least the 277 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1992/3.

Captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who has been in excellent form in the past year, is a 4/1 (5.00) chance. The left-hander averages 42 against Australia and six of his nine Tests again them have been on Australian soil. Ramnaresh Sarwan is 9/2 (5.50), opener Chris Gayle, one of the most dangerous batsmen around if he stays in long enough, is the same price, while Wavell Hinds is 11/2 (6.50). Marlon Samuels, who smashed a double century in the warm-up match, is a tempting proposition at 7/1 (8.00).

Man of the Match
Shane Warne tops the betting to be Man of the Match at 7/1 (8.00). The brilliant leg-spinner´s figures are not actually that good against West Indies, but that is partly because he has not played against them since 1998/1999 because of injury. He´s probably licking his lips at the prospect of bowling to some of the top order, even though Lara , Chanderpaul and Sarwan are very good players of spin.

Lara and Ponting are both 8/1 (9.00), while Langer is 10/1 (11.00), Matthew Hayden is 11/1 (12.00) and Glenn McGrath, Gayle and Brett Lee are all 12/1. (13.00).