Who will shine in Melbourne?

Shahid Afridi is likely to play a big part in the Man of the Match and the six hitting markets © Getty Images

bet365, have come up with a good range of markets on the opening match, including each team's top batsman, number of sixes in the match and highest opening partnership. The latter market is interesting, not least because Australia have dumped Matthew Hayden from their side, leaving a likely partnership of Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist. Kumar Sangakkara and Virender Sehwag, who opened in the Rest of the World's warm-up match, are both shot-makers, and 4/5 (1.80) on the Aussies getting off to a better start, is probably a fair bet.

Man of the Match
With so many match-winners in each side, the Man of the Match market is likely to prove even more popular, and for once, there is plenty of value around because of the strength of both teams. England hero Andrew Flintoff and Australia's Gilchrist head the betting on 9/1 (10.00), while Jacques Kallis, Sehwag, Australia captain Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds are all 10/1 (11.00) shots.

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Shahidi Afridi, who when he's on song is one of the cleanest strikers of a cricket ball in world cricket, is 12/1 (13.00), the same price as West Indies great Brian Lara, his team-mate Chris Gayle and Australian Clarke. Muttiah Muralitharan, Kevin Pietersen, Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath are all 14/1 (15.00), but the real value could like in Rahul Dravid at 16/1 (17.00) and Shaun Pollock at 20/1 (21.00).

Dravid is one of the best batsmen in the world in both forms of the game, and he showed he is in good touch with 66 in the warm-up game. Pollock is not only a great opening bowler but also chips in with plenty of valuable runs, particularly in one-day cricket, where he has made nine half-centuries.

Batting markets
In the individual team batting markets, Gilchrist just about shades favouritism to be top Australia scorer at 100/30 (4.33). It is important to remember the field restrictions at the top of the order in one-day cricket, and although they have changed slightly, opening batsmen still have a better chance, on paper, to attack and make runs.

Ricky Ponting, who can devastate an attack when he gets going, is 7/2 (4.50), while Clarke is 9/2 (5.50). Symonds, a huge hitter in the middle order, is 5/1 (6.00) while Damien Martyn, who retains his place in the one-day squad despite being dropped from the Test side, is 11/2 (6.50) and Simon Katich and Mike Hussey, the latter who had a great time in county cricket this year, are both 13/2 (7.50).

For the Rest of the World, bet365 can't split Sehwag and Kallis, who are both 4/1 (5.00) to top score. Lara is a 9/2 (5.50) chance, while Gayle, Pietersen and Dravid are all 5/1 (6.00) bets. Of the others, Flintoff, who missed the warm-up game and who, like Pietersen, must be a little tired after the summer's exertions, is 7/1 (8.00), the same price as Shahid Afridi, the Pakistani who has won the Man of the Match award an impressive 14 times.

Sixes galore?
Last but not least, bet365 have also released a market on which team will hit the most sixes and the Rest of the World are somewhat predictable favourites at 9/10 (1.90). With Flintoff, Pietersen, Gayle and Afridi in their side, the chances of some big hits are pretty strong, but Australia, who are 13/10 (2.30), should not be ruled out.

Gilchrist is due a big innings and can launch the ball miles, while Ponting and in particular Symonds love to hit the ball out of the ground. It's hard to know just how the Rest of the World side will play this series - is it entertainment or really serious - but if I had to bet on this one, I'd plump for them to hit the most sixes at 9/10.

Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.

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