Being ante-post favourites, it’s no surprise that England’s name features among four of the top five most popular options in the Name The Finalists betting.
This market is more of a gamble than most as we simply can’t predict how the group stage will pan out and, even if able to correctly forecast which teams will be in the semi-finals, in what order the sides will finish in the final group table. The variables are too complex to delve into but an England-Australia final is 6/1 with Betvictor for those interested and an England-West Indies final is 16/1 with the same firm.
Top Batsman – Can Gayle Blow Away the Bowlers One Last Time?
It’s right that betting for the Top Batsman centres around the top orders of the likely key nations with India’s Virat Kohli a clear general 15/2 favourite. The openers, in particular, are given license to thrill and not worry about the prospect of falling cheaply. Kohli is second only to Sachin Tendulkar in the number of ODI centuries recorded, even though he rarely opens nowadays.
Next best is England’s Johnny Bairstow at 11/1 with Betvictor. The Yorkshireman wasn’t even a regular in the England ODI side until injuries gave him his chance but the Test wicketkeeper has cemented his place with a string of hard-hitting displays alongside Jason Roy (a general 14/1) and is as good a fielder as any in the team. He is also, of course, excellent back-up for Jos Buttler (28/1 to be Top Batsman) behind the stumps. Buttler is the most innovative and powerful of England’s batsman and a potential match-winner so it’s almost criminal that he doesn’t get in until a few wickets have gone down but that is the strength of this England team at present.
Chris Gayle would love to light up the World Cup in his swansong and the West Indies veteran is a general 25/1 to be Top Batsman. He’ll definitely take no prisoners and can concentrate wholly on his batting as Jason Holder will ‘hide’ him somewhere when it comes to fielding.
Kane Williamson will be the mainstay of the New Zealand team again but under immense pressure to perform. The Kiwis captain is a general 16/1 to be Top Batsman but might find himself running out of partners against the top teams, who will look to contain.
Australia’s Steve Smith is 18/1 with Betvictor and already back in the groove following the ending of his suspension. Team-mates David Warner and Aaron Finch are a best 12/1 and 20/1 respectively with South Africa’s Quinton de Kock at a general 18/1 and Pakistan’s Babar Azam also available at 18/1 with several bookmakers.
Top Bowler – Will Cummins See Off Young Pretenders?
If you asked most neutrals about which bowler they are looking forward to seeing in action in this year’s World Cup, three names would probably stand out.
Despite not naming him in the initial World Cup squad, Eoin Morgan was always going to want Jofra Archer in England’s squad. The selectors took the opportunity of assessing the newly-qualified quickie in an ODI one-off with Ireland and a series with Pakistan and liked what they saw. The Barbados-born 24-year-old can also bat so his inclusion was really a no-brainer and he is only a best 20/1 to be Top Bowler (wicket-taker).
South Africa’s Lungo Ngidi doesn’t have the same high profile but is a year younger than Archer and also stupendously quick. He is also very tall but hasn’t yet filled his big frame and maybe can’t bowl enough overs in a stretch to keep batsmen on the back foot. However, he is available at 33/1 to be Top Bowler.
Australia’s Pat Cummins is another with frightening pace and he is a best 18/1 with Betway to be Top Bowler. Now 26, ‘The Postman’ is the top-ranked Test bowler in world cricket and another very tall man who will hit the pitch hard. Whether, he’ll be as effective on English wickets is the question!
India’s Jasprit Bumrah is a general 14/1 but I wouldn’t be too interested in a ring-rusty Kagiso Rabada and left-hander Mitchell Starc at a general 16/1 – England’s Adil Rashid is the top-rated spinner, according to bookmakers, also at 16/1.
With almost 50 matches being played through the World Cup, there must be a good chance that one bowler will find the inspiration and the circumstances in his favour to take a hat-trick of wickets and several bookmakers have priced up the prospect.
