2 points INDIA to win VB Series @ 12/5 (posted in the community pages several days ago)
2pts VVS Laxman to score more runs in the three VB Series finals than Ricky Ponting at 5/6 (Stan James).
The VB series finals gets underway Friday (thursday at 10:15pm ET in America) and features the best two countries in world cricket at present. This best of three series is set up to be a classic.
Australia are odds on to win the finals, although taking the World Champions on at such a stingy price may not be the soundest of betting decision. In the group stages, Australia beat India three times with India winning one. All bar one of those matches was close, and that final one in Perth, which the Aussies won by five wickets was more to do with the hard fast bouncy wicket at the WACCA than anything else. Atleast the Indians won't have to play any of these best of three matches under similar conditions. The Australians bowling has been considerably weakened with Shane Warne suspended and Glenn McGrath injured, Brett Lee has yet to really prove that he is back 100% fit. There were signs in their last game that he is getting there, but I put that performance down more to the hard pitch at the Wacca. Perhaps the rest of the cricketing world is about to see a change in world rankings as the last two named are both in the twilight of their careers and what has been evident over this Australian summer is the lack of depth they have in the bowling department. Andy Bichel as been dropped for the Glamorgan seamer Mike Kasprowicz. Not a smart move in my opinion as Kasprowicz is a has been as far as International cricket goes. Bichel offers nothing advantagious with his bowling against Kasprowicz, but his batting and fielding is far more solid. Something that is more important in the limited over version of cricket than test matches. I know Kasprowicz has been skittling people out in the domestic ING Cup, but domestic cricket in Australia is a far cry from representing your country especially when the top batsmen have been away from their State sides on International duty.
On the batting front, the Baggy Greens are as ever world class. Their line up is chock full of run getters and they are able to bat down to as low as number ten, something most International sides are unable to do. The loss of Bevin through injury losses the middle order stability, especially in a run chase situation. The one shinning performance this series has been Gilchrist. He is avergaing almost 72 and has made 75 and 95 in his last two matches against the Indians at the top of the order.
It will already be a tough challenge keeping a very talented Indian batting line up quiet. Encouragingly for the Indians is the return to some kind of form of Sachin Tendulkar. If the premier batsman in the world is in form, India cannot be discounted. Even if Tendulkar fails there is still Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag and Ganguly for the Aussies to worry about. In previous years, India have won one in every three one-dayers against Australia.
Lets make no mistake, the Indians have not been overawed and have shown why they are regarded as the second best team in the one-day game. The key to their side is the batting. It cannot be argued that they are the strongest in world cricket. The Indian batsmen have already scored three centuries in their four matches against Australia, plus another five scores of 50 or more.
My first recommendation is that India need backing on the basis of value alone. Take away the hard bouncy wicket at the WACCA which clearly didn't suit them and the remaining three games could have been won by either side. 12/5 for India is certainly over the odds and is priced due to the past performances of Australia with a full side available. The Baggy Greens do have depth but not the quality we are all acustomed to.
My next recommendation is on VVX Laxman. At present over the last three years he must have the best record of any batsman against the Aussies. Back in 2001 he made a breathtaking 281 to win that particular test match when an Aussie victory seemed a mare formality after India were forced to follow on. Laxman's one-day average of 50.71 runs per innings isn't to shabby either against Australia. His form and confidence at present must be at a all time high, he's made two unbeaten tons against the Australians so far in this tournament and has an overall average in the series of 82.80 runs per innings.
The books have begun to cotton on to Laxman's liking for the Austrlian bowling, yet there still appears to be some value in some markets. You can get 9/2 about Laxman being the Indians top bat at the MCG for the first one day International which looks a fair price. Meanwhile, Bet365 price Laxman (4/5) up against Dravid (10/11) in their batsmen matches which tempted me. Dravid has struggled against the Aussies in the one day game (30.76 average compared to 39.27 against all opponents). He's only averaging 37.86 in this series too, so Laxman looks a worthy favourite.
But the best way to make money from Laxman looks to be with Stan James. They have pitched him against Ricky Ponting, 5/6 (-120) the pair in their batsmen matches, but importantly their market is across all three final matches. With Ponting yet to go past 42 (other scores: 18 and 7) in this series against India, this has to be the call.
2pts VVS Laxman to score more runs in the three VB Series finals than Ricky Ponting at 5/6 (Stan James).
The VB series finals gets underway Friday (thursday at 10:15pm ET in America) and features the best two countries in world cricket at present. This best of three series is set up to be a classic.
Australia are odds on to win the finals, although taking the World Champions on at such a stingy price may not be the soundest of betting decision. In the group stages, Australia beat India three times with India winning one. All bar one of those matches was close, and that final one in Perth, which the Aussies won by five wickets was more to do with the hard fast bouncy wicket at the WACCA than anything else. Atleast the Indians won't have to play any of these best of three matches under similar conditions. The Australians bowling has been considerably weakened with Shane Warne suspended and Glenn McGrath injured, Brett Lee has yet to really prove that he is back 100% fit. There were signs in their last game that he is getting there, but I put that performance down more to the hard pitch at the Wacca. Perhaps the rest of the cricketing world is about to see a change in world rankings as the last two named are both in the twilight of their careers and what has been evident over this Australian summer is the lack of depth they have in the bowling department. Andy Bichel as been dropped for the Glamorgan seamer Mike Kasprowicz. Not a smart move in my opinion as Kasprowicz is a has been as far as International cricket goes. Bichel offers nothing advantagious with his bowling against Kasprowicz, but his batting and fielding is far more solid. Something that is more important in the limited over version of cricket than test matches. I know Kasprowicz has been skittling people out in the domestic ING Cup, but domestic cricket in Australia is a far cry from representing your country especially when the top batsmen have been away from their State sides on International duty.
On the batting front, the Baggy Greens are as ever world class. Their line up is chock full of run getters and they are able to bat down to as low as number ten, something most International sides are unable to do. The loss of Bevin through injury losses the middle order stability, especially in a run chase situation. The one shinning performance this series has been Gilchrist. He is avergaing almost 72 and has made 75 and 95 in his last two matches against the Indians at the top of the order.
It will already be a tough challenge keeping a very talented Indian batting line up quiet. Encouragingly for the Indians is the return to some kind of form of Sachin Tendulkar. If the premier batsman in the world is in form, India cannot be discounted. Even if Tendulkar fails there is still Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag and Ganguly for the Aussies to worry about. In previous years, India have won one in every three one-dayers against Australia.
Lets make no mistake, the Indians have not been overawed and have shown why they are regarded as the second best team in the one-day game. The key to their side is the batting. It cannot be argued that they are the strongest in world cricket. The Indian batsmen have already scored three centuries in their four matches against Australia, plus another five scores of 50 or more.
My first recommendation is that India need backing on the basis of value alone. Take away the hard bouncy wicket at the WACCA which clearly didn't suit them and the remaining three games could have been won by either side. 12/5 for India is certainly over the odds and is priced due to the past performances of Australia with a full side available. The Baggy Greens do have depth but not the quality we are all acustomed to.
My next recommendation is on VVX Laxman. At present over the last three years he must have the best record of any batsman against the Aussies. Back in 2001 he made a breathtaking 281 to win that particular test match when an Aussie victory seemed a mare formality after India were forced to follow on. Laxman's one-day average of 50.71 runs per innings isn't to shabby either against Australia. His form and confidence at present must be at a all time high, he's made two unbeaten tons against the Australians so far in this tournament and has an overall average in the series of 82.80 runs per innings.
The books have begun to cotton on to Laxman's liking for the Austrlian bowling, yet there still appears to be some value in some markets. You can get 9/2 about Laxman being the Indians top bat at the MCG for the first one day International which looks a fair price. Meanwhile, Bet365 price Laxman (4/5) up against Dravid (10/11) in their batsmen matches which tempted me. Dravid has struggled against the Aussies in the one day game (30.76 average compared to 39.27 against all opponents). He's only averaging 37.86 in this series too, so Laxman looks a worthy favourite.
But the best way to make money from Laxman looks to be with Stan James. They have pitched him against Ricky Ponting, 5/6 (-120) the pair in their batsmen matches, but importantly their market is across all three final matches. With Ponting yet to go past 42 (other scores: 18 and 7) in this series against India, this has to be the call.
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