ICC Cricket World Cup action gets underway in Australia and New Zealand on February 14 and will conclude with its finale on March 29 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The biggest spectacle of cricket starts at Christchurch where hosts New Zealand take on the runners-up in 2011 Sri Lanka while Australia takes on archrival England at the MCG.
【2015 Cricket World Cup Stadiums】
As of the last announcement from the International Cricket Council (ICC), more than 750,000 tickets have already been sold for this year’s tournament. It is expected that the tournament will garner one million plus in total attendance for only the second time in the history.
For a brief history of cricket’s World Cup, the ICC Cricket World Cup is the flagship competition of International One Day Cricket. The participating nations come from among the ten official test playing ICC members plus those nations selected through a number of ICC tournaments.
The first tournament ever held was in England way back in 1975. England was actually the host nation for the first three tournaments (known as the Prudential World Cup) because other nations didn’t have the capacity to accommodate the growing fan base.
The 1979 edition of the World Cup was the first one to allow non-ICC members to participate in the event through ICC World Cup Qualifiers that were previously known as the ICC Trophy.
【Participating Nations’ Past Cricket World Cup Results】
Before we look at the participating nations in more detail, let’s see what the current tournament winner outright odds are courtesy of「William Hill」.
【2015 Cricket World Cup Outright Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 13, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
Afghanistan
The Afghans enter the ICC Cricket World Cup for the first time and as such are not coming into the tournament as “title favorites”. However with that said, they have the talent to upset any cricketing nation at present especially with 30 year old captain, Mohammed Nabi, suiting up for them to prove the odds wrong and show the rest of the world that they are a force to be reckoned with.
Nabi, having played for Marylebone Cricket Club and Pakistan Customs is not a new face to cricket fans. Representing his country on 45 occasions, scoring 1069 runs and dismissing 42 players, Nabi is not one to be taken lightly with either the ball or the bat.
Thanks in part to Nabi’s fine playing, the Afghan nation has become a hotbed for cricket in recent past. With the sport’s popularity skyrocketing, the Pathans are on a mission to silence the naysayers and appease their fans so expect a strong performance from them during this ICC Cricket World Cup.
The road to the 2015 World Cup for the Afghans was a fairly easy one as they made their way through to the group stage of the tournament against the likes of the Netherlands, Namibia, Canada and Kenya. They also finished with the silver spot in the 2011-13 ICC World Cricket League Championship.
Players to watch: Captain Mohammed Nabi, Shabir Noori, Nawroz Mangal, Gulbodin Naib, Mohammad Shahzad and Karim Sadiq.
Betting Odds: UK sportsbook「William Hill」has stacked the deck against them putting odds on the Afghans to win it all at 501.00.
【Afghanistan Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【Afghanistan Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
Australia
Jointly hosting the event with New Zealand, Australia is coming in as a four time World Cup champion. Can they take their tally to five trophies, which would be more than any other cricketing country in the world?
For one thing, their morale is at an all-time high. With the recent death of cricketer Phil Hughes, winning the cup once more on home soil in dedication to Hughes would be the ultimate celebration. If Australia can win, they would become the second team ever (India was the first) to win the cup at home.
Players to watch: Surely one of the better captains on the field, Michael Clarke is the key man for the Aussies. Able to hold his wicket in the middle-order, Clarke possesses the mindset to launch an attack at any given moment. He is sure to pose a problem for opposing bowlers. Behind Clarke the Aussies have George Bailey, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh and David Warner who can destroy any bowling attack in the world. Add to it the pace and perfection of Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner, and there is no denying why the Aussies are able to crush any batting lineup.
Betting Odds: Hosting the World Cup on their own soil gives the Aussies a distinct advantage. With a very formidable lineup, needless to say, British bookmaker「William Hill」has them as the strongest favorite at 2.75 to claim the championship once again.
【Australia Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【Australia Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
Bangladesh
If you are looking for an upset betting opportunity, the Bengal Tigers are the perfect team for your buck. Bangladesh has a history of winning games against the odds and fumbling in the matches that are sure to be won out of their pockets. They showed their mettle when they knocked practically a lock to win India out of the Caribbean World Cup back in 2007.
Players to Watch: Bangladesh has a perfect blend of young guns and cool experienced heads on their squad much like aged scotch. Shakib Al Hasan will surely be the man the Bangladeshis will be pinning their hopes on and rightly so. The pace and swing of Captain Mashrafe Mortaza has the power to disturb any batsman on his day. Mushfiqur Rahim is another man to keep your eyes on. Bangladeshi fans are hoping for him to hold his cool behind the stumps and prove his worth with the bat as well.
Betting Odds: It would be apt to call them outsiders for this one, but if this team has truly come of age, now is the time for them to prove it. Bookie「William Hill」doesn’t have much faith in them currently as they’ve priced the Bengal Tigers at 201.00 to be the outright winner.
【Bangladesh Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【Bangladesh Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
England
As baseball in America’s national pastime sport, so is cricket in England. However for the Brits, they suffer from the creator’s curse as they have never been able to lift the biggest trophy in the cricketing arena. Will this time around be their opportunity to shine?
The fast, bouncy, and dry pitches of the island continent are to be just like home away from home for the English. Expect them ready to rise to the challenge of winning their first fifty over international ICC trophy ever.
Players to watch: With his reverse sweep working, captain and hard hitter Eoin Morgan has the brut strength to clear the park with ease. The left-handed middle-order batsman is surely the backbone of the English squad and will be all gung-ho about etching English names on the biggest fifty-overs trophy for the first time in history. The most experienced English batsman, Ian Bell, is another person to look at along with youngsters Joe Root and Gary Ballance to do the trick for the team with the bat. The pace and swing of James Anderson and Stuart Broad have the capability to make the already menacing pitches look more deadly to the batsmen from around the world.
Betting Odds:「William Hill」ranks them as the team with second best chance of winning it all in Oceania given their odds of 10.00. The weather and pitch similarity only goes to help their cause and thus the favorable odds.
【England Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【England Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
India
The Indians are hoping to retain the World Cup “Down Under” and live up to the expectations of the largest and biggest fan base in the world. Coming into the tournament with a horrendous overseas record of late, the Indians will try to wash the slate clean by lifting the ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
With the Blue Billion Express facing archrival Pakistan in their first match on February 15 (a match that was soldout within 12 minutes of tickets going on sale), if India wants to have any chance to repeat as champions, they will need a strong performance against Pakistan to set the tone for the rest of the tournament.
Players to watch: Captain MS Dhoni is surely the one star to pay attention to with his impressive record of shutting down opponents in big matches. And don’t forget that Dhoni was the match winner for the Indians in the finals against Sri Lanka at the 2011 World Cup. Alongside Dhoni, other notables to look at on the Indian side include Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ajinkya Rahane.
Betting Odds: Being the reigning champions helps with the odds even if you have not been performing like one of late. I think it’s safe to say that this has factored into William Hill’s odds of 11.00, which are quite favorable for the defending champions.
【India Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【India Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
Ireland
Ireland has all the ingredients and track record for being the most potent of giant killers when it comes to the big stage tournaments. If you have any doubts, ask England. Composure and aggression don’t usually go hand in hand but with a good number of their players in their thirties, Ireland seems to have plenty of cool heads to guide the new blood that will be taking over the reigns of the national team by the time the next World Cup comes around.
Players to watch: The O’Brien brothers are the ones with whom the hopes of the Irish lie. The men from Ireland have already proved themselves time and again. The duo mentioned above will be eager to finish their careers on a high note and a few good performances in their last World Cup together will definitely create that scenario. Apart from the O’Briens, captain Willam Porterfield and his tendency to thrash opposing bowlers will not surprise spectators one bit.
Betting Odds: As distant long shots at odds of 251.00 at「William Hill」, will the Irish have enough juice in the tank to prove the linesmakers wrong?
【Ireland Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【Ireland Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
New Zealand
It’s safe to say that when the World Cup comes around, the Kiwis, for one reason or another, consistently underperform. Advancing to the semis on six different occasions, the Kiwis have never been able to step on the last step of the ladder.
With star players Vettori, Mills, and McCullum probably appearing in their last World Cup fight, could this campaign finally be the one to allow the Kiwis to inscribe their name on the trophy?
Players to watch: It is a well-known fact that Brendon McCullum has that special something a team needs behind the wicket and in front of it to win any match. Apart from the captain, the Kiwis are banking on the likes of Corey Anderson, Ross Taylor, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee and Kane Williamson for sound performances.
Betting Odds: Coming in as the third most favorite squad at odds of 5.50, that’s an advantage you get when you’re hosting the World Cup. Can the Kiwis live up to their expectations for a change?
【New Zealand Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 13, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【New Zealand Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 13, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
Pakistan
Can Pakistan, who is facing a formidable foe in India in their first match set to begin on February 15, start the tournament off right with a major upset? Having never beaten their nemesis in a World Cup match, the pressure is certainly on for a different result this time around.
With Pakistan’s last memorable performance coming way back in 1992, when they managed to get hold of the cup, they need some spectacular performances early on in order to prove themselves worthy in 2015.
Players to watch: Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq is 41 already and with PCB’s grace this may well be his last hurrah. With Younis Khan being 37, Shahid Afridi 35, Mohammad Hafeez 34, and Mohammad Irfan, who stands tall at 7 feet, 33, this may be the best fighting chance the Pakistanis have (compared to recent past) to do some damage during this World Cup in making it memorable.
Betting Odds: From their championship run in 1992, the Pakistanis are a team that has truly fallen from grace. However, this makes it as good a time as ever for them to lift the trophy again and drag themselves out of the ruins where they currently reside.「William Hill」has a little bit of an inkling that this may be their year as they have the odds in their favor (albeit slightly) at 17.00.
【Pakistan Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【Pakistan Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
Scotland
Needless to say Scotland is the “Cinderella” of this year’s World Cup. Reflecting back a year, no one even thought they had the talent to be here at the highest stage of the cricketing arena. Having participated in the competition in 1999 and 2007, they have cup experience but in comparison to past tournament squads, this year’s group will definitely being facing an uphill battle as they look to make some noise in the tournament.
Players to watch: Captain and composed batsman Preston Mommsen will be the man the Scots will have their hopes on. Along with Mommsen, Kyle Coetzer, Safyann Sharif and Rob Taylor will be the key players who need to step up if the Scots are to have any shot at a fighting chance.
Betting Odds: Even though they are coming in with having the worst odds of all at 1001.00, they can be a menace to society on their day. Expect at least one upset from the Scots. Lifting the ICC Cricket World Cup is another story though.
【Scotland Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【Scotland Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
South Africa
You can never count Proteas out of a match until the last ball has been bowled. They can chase 434 on one day and then go on to bowl away for a total score of hundred plus runs the following day. If you want a team to score 400 runs or need them to set a target of under one hundred then the right team to root for is South Africa. With the fastest inswing delivery seen this century at 150 km/hr, Proteas are quite an exciting bunch to watch. Having a tendency to have their abilities backfire at times, the only team that can doom Proteas from winning it all is Proteas themselves.
Players to watch: It’s difficult to single out one player as the team has a new hero each and every time they walk out onto the ground. Suffice to say, they are a punter’s dream and nightmare at the same time. Foundation of the team rests on world class batsman Hashim Amla with de Villiers bringing up the rear. In addition, you have du Plessis and Duminy to come up big when the team is caught in tricky situations. The bowling department is spearheaded by Dale Stein and Morne Morkel and the orthodox spinner in Imran Tahir.
Betting Odds: The surefire favorites, they are their own worst enemy. A pretty good lock to be at least semi-finalists, South Africa has a very, very good chance to cause a stir at this year’s World Cup and win it all.「William Hill」is in agreement with odds priced at 4.00.
【South Africa Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【South Africa Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
Sri Lanka
The present T-20 champions will surely be on an all-time high to prove their mettle in the much bigger and more patient format of the game. With some of their legends playing their last World Cup, the Lankans will be running on all cylinders to gift their veterans the most prestigious trophy in cricket. As the Lankans have been finalists in the previous two editions of the World Cup, they are surely hoping to conquer the summit this time around.
Players to watch: Angelo Mathews, the captain, will be their go-to man along with stalwarts Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Dilshan and Lasith Malinga.
Betting Odds: One of the stronger teams from the sub-continent, the Lankan Lions are aiming to break the curse of losing in the finals. They have a considerable chance as「William Hill」has them as slight underdogs coming in with odds at 13.00.
【Sri Lanka Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 13, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【Sri Lanka Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 13, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
United Arab Emirates
UAE, one of the newest entries to the cricketing field, are still going through their growing pains when it comes to the international level of the game. Boasting two of the oldest players in the tournament, UAE will need their veterans to perform at peak levels for their squad to have any chance to play spoiler.
Players to watch: Mohammad Tauqir, Khurram Khan, Saqlain Haider and Kamran Shazad are the most proficient Arabs in the business.
Betting Odds: Brothers in Arms to Scotland, UAE has next to nil chance of winning the cup, and oddsmaker「William Hill」believes the same as they are accurately priced at 1001.00 to win it all.
【United Arab Emirates Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【United Arab Emirates Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
West Indies
After the withdrawal of their mystery spinner, Sunil Narine, there are numerous questions surrounding how West Indies will perform. Even without Narine, they certainly have the talent and arms to make it to the top.
With their last memorable performance dating back to 1975 and 1979, West Indies has never been able to rise to the upper echelons of the tournament since they were upset in the 1983 World Cup finals at the hands of India.
Players to watch: Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Smith, Darren Sammy, Kemar Roach and Andre Russell are the big guns that will try to rewrite the history books.
Betting Odds: Are the glory days gone forever?「William Hill」doesn’t seem to think so placing odds of 26.00 for West Indies to make a splash and claim this year’s World Cup.
【West Indies Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【West Indies Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
Zimbabwe
Not a title contender by any means, Zimbabwe will be looking to wreak havoc in spoiling their opponents chances of advancing in the tournament. After a self-Imposed ban from test matches because of two lopsided defeats at the hands of the Blues, Zimbabwe will be aiming to avoid a similar fate during the shorter World Cup version of the game.
Players to watch: Zimbabwe will be relying upon Elton Chigumbura, Craig Ervin, Brendon Taylor and Prosper Utseya to carry the load.
Betting Odds: Ability-wise Zimbabwe just doesn’t have enough talent in comparison to most of the other participants and this shows in「William Hill」having 501.00 odds on them to take it all once the tournament is said and done.
【Zimbabwe Top Batsman Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
【Zimbabwe Top Bowler Odds】
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 14, 12:00 a.m. (GMT)
World Cup Top Batsman Odds:
For odds on who will be recognized as top batsman, South African Hashim Amla is the front runner followed by Aussie David Warner, AB de Villiers and Kane Williamson. Of the sub-continental men, Rohit Sharma of India stands the best chance with odds at 15.00.
World Cup Top Bowler Odds:
When it comes to the top bowler, there are no surprises here with Mitchell Starc, Dale Steyn and Mitchell Johnson all having favorable odds to claim the honor.
On the basis of pool distribution, history of past World Cup performance and taking the conditions “Down Under” into consideration, the most probable teams to play in either Auckland or Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) will be Australia and Sri Lanka from pool A along with India and South Africa from pool B. If the semi-final match-ups turn out as such, expect Australia and Sri Lanka to meet in the final to battle it out for this year’s cup.
As for the Golden Bat honors, it will be a toss-up between David Warner and Hashim Amla. For the Golden Ball, figure it to be either Lasith Malinga or Dale Steyn.
And for which team will be crowned cricket world champions in 2015, home field advantage will prove to be too much for the Lankans to handle as the Aussies rise up and make this World Cup one to remember for years to come!
