2009 ICC World T20 Betting – Group C Preview
by Juris Graney
AUSTRALIA
Squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice-captain), Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle, Andrew Symonds, David Warner, Shane Watson.
BetUS.com odds: Futures +400; Group +110
Last tournament: Semi final loss to India
Trump player: David Warner
Australia, the top ranked Test nation and second placed One-Day team have had mixed fortunes when it comes to their success in Twenty20 cricket. In the inuaugural 2007 tournament they were defeated in the semi finals by the eventual world champions, India, but that came after an embarrassing first round loss to minnow Zimbabwe. Australia are still in their rebuilding process after losing a host of legendary players to retirement like Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath….the list is long. Their domination of international cricket is over but they cannot be discounted when it comes to any tournament scenario – they are masters of peaking at the right time.
SRI LANKA
Squad: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Muttiah Muralidaran (vice-captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardena, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathew, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara Mirando, Lasith Malinga, Isuru Udana Thilakaratne, Farveez Maharoof, Jehan Mubarak, Indika de Saram.
BetUS odds: Futures +700; Group +150
Last tournament: Super Eights
Trump player: Tillakaratne Dilshan
Call me crazy but I like Sri Lanka’s chances at this year’s tournament. They have an all round solid team, they know how to play Twenty20, they have brilliant individual performers but mostly, and they are willing to try different things to win. And that is where this year’s tournament will be won. The team that tries something out of the ordinary will triumph and I have a feeling that Sri Lanka will do jus that.
WEST INDIES
Squad: Chris Gayle (captain), Denesh Ramdin (vice-captain), Andre Fletcher, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Sammy, Fidel Edwards, Lionel Baker, Sulieman Benn, Jerome Taylor, Lendl Simmons, Xavier Marshall, Dave Bernard.
BetUS odds: Futures +1000; Group +200
Last tournament: Pool stage
Trump player: Chris Gayle
Captain Chris Gayle was destined to star in this form of the game and expect him to blaze away again this tournament however the West Indies are just too unpredictably to take seriously. One minute they look like world-beaters, the next they are rolled in embarrassing fashion. They will move through to the Super Eights stages unlike in 2007 but they won’t go much further than that.
