Twenty20 World Cup Cricket Betting 2009
The 5th of June 2009 is a date found in many a free bet fans sports calendar as it sees battle commence in the ICC World #Twenty20 Cricket# event; another great excuse for the online betting community to test their skill and sporting judgment against the leading bookies.
From England's perspective, all things cricket seem slightly cursed, were it not for the emergence of a few new players already making a good stab at things at the crease and beyond, given news that Kevin Pietersen could be set to sit the tournament out in the aftermath of picking up an injury whilst competing for the Bangalore Royal Challengers, his Indian Premier League employers.
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Joining fellow IPL maverick, Freddie Flintoff on the cricketing casualty list, KP's scare will not only worry the selectors ahead of the World Twenty20, but cast serious doubts over his fitness returning in time to face the Aussies at Sophia Gardens in July, and England's tilt at regaining the Ashes. And naturally this will send shock waves through those online punters who regularly back the two sometimes controversial, always leading from the front, cricketing talismen, who provide useful returns on many a casual wager.
England's Twenty20 team, Are Not Amongst Favourites To Lift Trophy
With England benefiting from home advantage, support at the grounds will be vocal to say the least, and backed up with a stampede of online betting from cricket-loving punters enlivened by England's resurgence against the West Indies in the #One Day International# Tests in May. That said, the country's new found belief isn't exactly reflected by online bookmakers, who largely suggest that India, South Africa, Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are better equipped to walk off with the silverware as we find ourselves 6th favourite.
India appear the pace-setters in terms of online betting markets, priced on average at 11 – 4, with South Africa placed just behind them at 9 – 2, along with the old enemy Australia. Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka are balancing out and trading at roughly 8 – 1, whilst England come up 9s and 10s at this juncture, fractionally better off than New Zealand and the West Indies. If of course you're more of a football fan, don't be tempted with Holland's chances of pulling of a miracle, who prop up the betting field at 2000 – 1 for good reason, or for that matter banking on Scotland to afford you an each way coup at 1000 – 1. 'Fool soon and a money his parted are' springs to mind.
12 Teams, A Chance To Back A Twenty20 Winner In July
With the all the action unfolding in June, cricket fans from across the globe will be flocking to England to see the world's best players in the flesh at the crease, behind the wicket and in the field. 2009 sees the second ICC World Twenty20 taking place, two years on from the inaugural tournament hosted by South Africa and won by India; after getting the better of their old adversaries, Pakistan.
Comprising of the 12 teams, crowds will be entertained at three of the country's finest and most rewarding of cricket venues; namely London's Lord's and Oval and Nottingham's Trent Bridge grounds. This year also witnesses the incorporation of a women's Twenty20 tournament for the first time, whereby 8 teams will compete against each other in group stages in Taunton, Somerset, before sharing the stage with their male counterparts at Lord's at the later stages.
After the respective semi finals at Trent Bridge and The Oval, both the men's and women's competition will be showcased hand in hand at Lord's; essentially this double whammy working to the spectators advantage as essentially they'll be able to see two games for the price of one match day ticket.
Twenty20 Cricket 12 Of The Best
ECCB selectors have chosen the following 15 cricketers to represent England in the 2009 Twenty20 tournament, which gets under way on the 5th June and runs until the 21st.
Paul Collingwood is the England team captain, who successfully juggles his county cricket commitments for Durham with Indian Premier League obligations for the Delhi Daredevils. Previously charged with being England's One Day International captain, it's a role his critics believed he didn't seize the initiative over and was at the helm when England suffered some soul destroying defeats in recent years.
James Anderson, Lancashire – Currently acknowledged by the ICC as the 7th best player in world cricket – a feat helped by his recent innings performance against the West Indies, whereby he helped himself to a nine wicket haul in the one day test series – the spin bowler is also improving his batting statistics at the crease in time for the battles that lie ahead this summer.
Ravi Bopara, Essex – Claiming 84 runs from just 59 deliveries on the way to securing a victory for Punjab over Bangalore in the IPL recently, Essex batsman Bopara will be used in a top of the order capacity in limited overs cricket according to the England hierarchy.
Stuart Broad, Nottinghamshire – Doing his chances of being named in this year's Ashes series a no-brainer , Broad – along with strike partner Anderson – provided some devastating bowling against the West Indies recently, to illustrate his passion and talent to take the game to the opposition at this demanding level.
Andrew Flintoff, Lancashire – May have been announced in the squad to provide confidence boost to the rest of the team – and opposition – Freddie may not be sufficiently mended from knee surgery to warrant a start in the competition, especially in light of the upcoming Ashes. James Foster, Essex – returns to the fold after a prolonged absence and mooted to arguably be the best wicketkeeper England has to offer, and will grasp the Twenty20 nettle to make his claim for inclusion in other aspects of the game given opportunity.
Robert Key, Kent – Is another name who's been conspicuous by their absence, a four year one in the Kent captain's case, although he's proved popular and successful skippering the England B team – the Lions – during this time.
Dimitri Mascarenhas, Hampshire – Firmly at the vanguard of the IPL thanks of success with the Rajasthan Royals, Mascarenhas is now in his 14th season with Hampshire and his experience will serve the team well given the blend of players untried at this level. The Hampshire skipper and all-rounder was even rumoured to be up for the captain's role, only to be pipped at the post by the returning Collingwood.
Eoin Morgan, Middlesex – The Middlesex batsman answers the England Twenty20 call for the first time here, but in doing so automatically relinquishes his chance to represent his country of birth, Ireland henceforth. The left-hander is seen as potential Middlesex captain material and promises to deliver the goods through his inclusion in other England cricketing duties in the spring and early summer.
Graham Napier, Essex – Adjudged to be something of a Twenty20 specialist in certain, respected cricket punditry quarters, Napier receives this national team call-up for the first time and will surely relish the opportunity to show fans what they've been missing at this level having struck 28 sixes (aided and abetted by a world record 16 against Sussex) during the 2008 campaign.
Keven Pietersen, Hampshire – Bizarrely as yet unproven in this bite-size version of the game, KP's test and one day glories must surely be replicated at some point soon, with a sole half century all that he's got to show for his international Twenty20 efforts thus far.
Owais Shah, Middlesex – Almost single-handedly rescued England's dwindling hopes at The Oval in 2007, as his unbeaten 55 helped turn the tables on a resurgent West Indies side.
Ryan Sidebottom, Lancashire – Putting a stop-start winter of discontent behind him, left-armer Sidebottom has played his part in three England victories, grabbing 8 wickets in the process.
Graeme Swann, Nottingham – The off-spinner boasts a 100% win record in international Twenty20, all coming at the expense of New Zealand.
Luke Wright, Sussex – Another debutant at international level, Wright caught the selector's attentions on the back of an impressive 2007 domestic Twenty20 season, which ultimately saw him claim the run scoring title.
