Who will top their group?

There is plenty of betting to be had in the group stages, starting with the sides who will come out on top in their individual groups and set themselves up for the latter stages.

GROUP 1
Australia 4/6
South Africa 11/10
Scotland 200/1
Holland 250/1

It doesn't take a genius to work out that barring disaster, or perhaps a miracle, this one is going to come down to one match, between Australia and South Africa, the top two in the betting for the entire competition.

The thing about the two being put together in the same group is that they cannot meet again before the final, which in some ways, takes away from the competitive nature of their group match.

That said, after the way their form and luck with injuries deserted them in the run-up to the tournament, Australia will probably be the team with more to prove and that could give them the edge.

Having won the last two World Cups they won't want to give their closest rivals even the slightest inkling that they might be vulnerable, so they will probably come out on top.

GROUP 2
Sri Lanka 5/6
India 9/10
Bangladesh 33/1
Bermuda 300/1

Bangladesh are not the mugs they were but it is still massively unlikely that they will upset Sri Lanka or India, while the chances of Bermuda winning a match are so slim it's not really worth considering.

India managed to get the better of Sri Lanka in the recent one-day series, and on paper, I would favour the Indians to have a great run in this tournament, starting with victory in the group.

Few sides can match their batting power and in one-day cricket at least, their bowling prowess is perhaps under-rated.

Sri Lanka have a host of veterans out for one last hurrah and they may well cause an upset or two along the way, once we get to the knockout stages. But I just feel India have the edge and 9/10 is a pretty good price.

GROUP 3
England 5/6
New Zealand 5/6
Kenya 50/1
Canada 300/1

As the prices stand at the moment, this could be the best bet of the groups with England a solid proposition to win at 5/6.

Kenya are not terrible, even if Canada are, by world standards, leaving the two big guns to fight it out.

New Zealand's price is probably so short as a result of their 3-0 whitewash of the world champions, Australia, last time out, but though that win was impressive, it should carry a huge asterisk as the Aussies were well below strength.

England appear to have turned the corner after a shocking few years of one-day cricket performances and though it's always dangerous to put your faith in the England team, in this case, things appear to be coming good at the right time and 5/6 is as good a price as you are likely to get.

GROUP 4
West Indies 4/6
Pakistan 11/10
Zimbabwe 80/1
Ireland 300/1

Probably the toughest group of all with the hosts West Indies, a talented Pakistan side, a decent Zimbabwe and an Ireland team who deserve their place in the World Cup.

West Indies have home advantage and a side that on paper should be in with a great chance of getting to the last four, and perhaps further. If they begin well, the whole of the Caribbean will get behind them and they could be very tough to stop.

Pakistan boast some of the most talented players in the world but the question is whether they can put it all together at the right time and for me, their bowling is not quite as good as it has been in past competitions.

Zimbabwe could cause an upset with a win over one of the big two while Ireland should not be written off, but the home side look the call at 4/6.