The Kiwi’s must be relishing the chance to possibly kick their antipodean neighbours out of the Champions Trophy at such an early stage, if they can upset the odds and beat Australia at Edgbaston today.
The odds were heavily stacked in the Aussies favour. Yesterday, online bookmakers had Australia favourites at 4/6, and had New Zealand at 6/5. Personally, given current form, I thought that was a bit harsh on New Zealand.
Since then things have changed, and it has now emerged that David Warner has been stood down from today’s match for allegedly being involved in a late night altercation with an England player, rumoured to be the well built, Joe Root.
News of this seems to have been the catalyst for the punters to get stuck in to the Kiwi’s, as New Zealand are now into 11/10, with Australia drifting out to 8/11. This seems a bit more of a realistic price in my view.
Anyway, what would I know, I predicted a high scoring match between India and West Indies yesterday, and I clearly got that wrong. Although India did back up my theory that the previous low scoring game at The Oval was down to poor batting, by chasing down West Indies’ modest total with little fuss.
Back to today’s game, and look at the facts. New Zealand are in form, Australia aren’t. Australia are still without their best batsman – and now David Warner as well, so do they justify being favourites?
Surely this can only be down to previous results between the two, the fact that New Zealand are generally regarded as the ‘inferior team’ when it comes to playing Australia.
From the Kiwi’s point of view though, they have to ask themselves will they ever get a better chance to put the boot into Australia? This is their perfect chance to kick them while they are down.
The Edgbaston pitch seems to be playing in a competitive manner. Both games so far have been won by the team batting first, England with 269 and South Africa 234, so no one has got away yet and smashed a big total.
There is also rain in the air today, and I believe that these scrappy low scoring conditions play into the hands of teams like New Zealand and England. Obviously the toss will be important though, with the possibility of Duckworth/Lewis coming into play.
Outright Champions Trophy Betting
Pakistan are gone with a game still to play, as a result of India’s win yesterday. That win also sees India into outright favourite to win the Champions Trophy, the betting now has them in to a short looking 7/4.
West Indies are the big losers, their loss to India sees them drift from 11/2, out to 10/1.
Champions Trophy Betting
India 7/4
England 11/4
South Africa 9/2
New Zealand 13/2
Australia 10/1
West Indies 10/1
Sri Lanka 14/1
