3 minute read
One of the biggest sporting events this year is the Cricket World Cup and Racing and Sports will cover some of the feature matches of the tournament.
We’ll provide a look at the form going in and a few betting predictions.
AUSTRALIA v BANGLADESH
Thursday 20 June @ Trent Bridge
Bangladesh is the next in line to face Australia in a World Cup that has spent much of the days dodging raindrops on English roses.
And they will want a nice warm afternoon to show their wares rather than needing bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens.
Bangladesh were expected to pose many problems in this tournament and despite knocking off a poor South Africa early doors, the high water mark was this week.
They had pushed New Zealand to the hilt, weren’t hopeless to England and then lost a game to weather against Sri Lanka. However on Monday against the West Indies they ran down 321.
The Tigers are a sneaky chance to make the semi-finals but need a few results to go their way and must take care of business themselves.
They have experience through the captain Mashrafe Mortaza, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim. However their talisman is Shakib Al Hasan.
The 32yo is easily their top run scorer and contributes a full complement with the ball as well. He now has nine ODI hundreds to his name. Much of Justin Langer’s attention will fall his way.
The left arm orthodox does cause many to take him for granted. Every chance Australia will sit on him and just work him around for say 35/40 off his allotment.
Aussies were still left a little head scratching in the wee hours of last Sunday morning after the performance against Sri Lanka.
Not often you’d win by 87 runs after posting 334 and be in a quandary.
The batting order is askew. That is likely caused by the team line up. Usman Khawaja is a lovely batsman but is number three his spot and can he and Shaun Marsh play in the same team? I doubt it.
One of them loses out to either a re-fit Marcus Stoinis or a late acceptor in Mitchell Marsh because their late over hitting and 5 to 10 overs are important as a variation.
It’s just an opinion but have the suspicion Khawaja is an opener as he showed in the pre-tournament subcontinental forays.
That batting was dominant but three won’t go into two and in Finch and Warner, that combination is settled. Usman may have to make way.
The captain is playing so straight at the moment. He often gets hit on the front pad but the bat is coming through the line and his on-driving is a feature.
David Warner might be taking his time but in the long run that could just be a slow moving investment. If he explodes in the second half of the event then look out.
The other change is that Australia desperately has to incorporate a spinner. They love Zampa but he is not the best turner in the squad. Nathan Lyon should be playing. You can trust him.
You know he’s going to handle pressure, and if he got hit around early, that he can come back. He’ll give you ten overs of consistency. The leggies haven’t taken the tournament by storm as they do in T-20 competitions. He takes Berendorff’s spot you’d think.
The matches begin to move to different venues this week further up the country. Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Durham get some action and Lord’s finally has its curtain opening back in London.
But the last one at Nottingham will mean those short boundaries are in vogue again.
Watch for Warner to begin his ascent. If he gets away he might make a big one. There are fours and sixes available at will with only 60m hits needed and lightning fast outfields.
The cricketing world might be beginning to forgive (but not forget) what happened 15 months ago.
So we’ll end as we started on a Sound Of Music theme – well almost.
A Warner bat raising and subsequent leap will mean his ODI century record is 15 going on 16. Not quite Rolf and Liesl but if he can salute for us then these are a few of my favourite things.
Suggested Bets: David Warner – 50+ @ $1.90
Suggested Bets: David Warner – 100+ @ $5.00
