World Cup final re-match a possiblilty

Australia are 11/8 favourites to win the Champions Trophy, which takes place in England in September. India and South Africa are joint second favourites at 11/2. Hosts England, in spite of their wretched one-day form, are fourth in the betting at 17/2, narrowly ahead of 8/1 Pakistan.

Tournament format
Anyone placing a bet on the Champions Trophy should be aware of the tournament format. The twelve teams (the ten Test-playing countries plus USA and Kenya) are split into four pools. Each team plays two matches, and the team at the top of each pool qualifies for the semi-finals.

With only one team qualifying from each pool, only one of India and Pakistan can reach the semi-finals. That key match, which sold out within an hour of tickets going on sale, takes place at Edgbaston on September 19. Other matches that are effectively pool deciders are Australia v New Zealand, on September 16, and England v Sri Lanka, on Sep 17, and South Africa v West Indies (Sep 18).

Semi-final line-ups
The winner of Pool A (Australia, New Zealand, USA) will play the winner of Pool D (England, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe).

Our semi-final banker: Australia v Sri Lanka

The winner of Pool B (South Africa, Bangladesh, West Indies) will play the winner of Pool C (India, Pakistan, Kenya).

Our semi-final banker: South Africa v India

This means that the final could be a repeat of the World Cup final - Australia v India - or a re-match between Australia and South Africa (who can forget the 1999 semi-final?).

Anyone willing to go against form and back an upset could be rewarded. New Zealand won the NatWest Series, and will be familiar with English conditions. If they beat Australia in their qualifier, they would meet either Sri Lanka or England in the semi, and potentially India in the final. In this scenario, both New Zealand or Sri Lanka at 10/1 look good value.

Tournament odds by team

Australia 11/8

South Africa 11/2

India 11/2

England 17/2

Pakistan 8/1

New Zealand 10/1

Sri Lanka 10/1

West Indies 12/1

Zimbabwe 150/1

Kenya 250/1

Bangladesh 1000/1

USA 2500/1