Broad returns and Pietersen opens to enliven England chances

The cricket World Cup gets underway on Saturday. Sort of.

Here’s the opening fixtures through until next Wednesday, together with our picks and the odds available on those results. Don’t get too excited:

Saturday: India v Bangladesh in Dhaka. India win (1/7).

Sunday (Feb 20): Kenya v New Zealand (Chennai): New Zealand win (1/14). Sri Lanka v Canada (Hambantota): Sri Lanka win (1/25).

Monday (Feb 21): Australia v Zimbabwe (Ahmedabad): Australia win (1/12).

Tuesday (Feb 22): England v Holland (Nagpur): England win (1/14).

Wednesday (Feb 23): Kenya v Pakistan (Hambantota): Pakistan win (1/12).

So far, so predictable.

There are so many mismatches in the group stages of this 14-nation tournament that the opening games appear to be nothing more than something to be endured, rather more than enjoyed. Even Pakistan’s dodgy agents and bet-fixers would struggle to eke any value out of these one-sided contests.

Whichever official/TV exec is responsible for putting together this yawn-fest of schedule needs to be taken out and forced to watch paint drying for five days. Actually no: they would be getting off lightly compared to the fans who are expected to sit through these non-events.

It is a fair reflection of this dull first week that the “biggest” odds available for predicting the winners in the first six games of the World Cup is 1/7. And that’s because the 6/1 Bangladeshis will be playing in front of their delirious home crowd, they are an improving young side, and they are capable of beating one of the “big boys” of cricket, as they demonstrated with a one-day win in England last summer.

But there will be no big profits to be made from any of these games, unless the Dutch – 12/1 shots against England – can manage to repeat their shock victory at Lord’s in the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup. Which they won’t.

The longer format of the 50-over games at the World Cup help to reduce the chances of such a shock outcome, and besides, England are a much stronger, better organized side these days.

Not until next Thursday, when South Africa meet West Indies in Delhi, will we be presented with something approaching a contest. Yet even there, South Africa, tempting 11/2 shots to lift the World Cup on April 2, are deserved 4/9 favorites to beat former champs (the West Indies can be backed at 2/1).

England looked to be in decent knick on Friday in their final warm-up game, scoring 273 before putting the pressure on Pakistan, who struggled to get even within 100 runs of their target score.

Interesting to note Kevin Pietersen scoring 66 after opening the innings and Stuart Broad, back to full fitness, ripping the guts out of the Pakistan innings with four top-order wickets.

With star spinner – vital on sub-continent pitches – Graeme Swann rejoining the England team following the birth of his son, Wilfred, the 9/1 odds on England winning the tournament are beginning to look very backable.

Related posts:
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Cricket - Bangladesh defeat makes it all or nothing now for England (James Payton) 0
Cricket - Johnson will target Strauss and Pietersen in opening Ashes Test (James Payton) 0
Cricket - England consider a third spinner as they eye quarterfinal slot (James Payton) 0
Cricket - Batsman Collingwood finds form for England ahead of Ashes (James Payton) 0

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