ICC World T20 tournament markets and quick betting tips

IT’S almost upon us.

The biggest tournament in the shortest cricket form is about to hit off, with the best cricketing nations across the planet vying for T20 World Cup glory.

And all the tournament markets have been released, with our friends over at sportsbet.com.au, as they so often do, leading the way with a plethora of betting options that are sure to satisfy your cricketing bug.

Here’s a look at some of the most popular markets and maybe a couple of more obscure ones that you could use to win some real money.

Who will win the ICC World T20?

The host nation India is the obvious favourite and it is a red hot one at that. With a batting line up that is the envy of most nations playing on their home decks, it is little wonder. But the Australians and the South Africans will be keeping them honest, with both rated a $6 equal second favourite with sportsbet.com.au. Here’s one from left field. How about those super strikers from the West Indies. While collectively, the nation’s cricketing results in recent years have been nothing short of deplorable, but the caveat is that some of their best cricketers have been away chasing the spoils of domestic T20 tournaments. That’s not the case here, with the likes of Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Samuel Badree, among others, preparing to saddle up for a tournament that will be memorable if they can etch themselves in history.

India ($3.10)

Australia ($6)

South Africa ($6)

England ($8)

West Indies ($9)

New Zealand ($12)

Pakistan ($13)

Sri Lanka ($15)

Bangladesh ($46)

Afghanistan ($501)

Zimbabwe ($501)

Ireland ($1001)

Scotland ($2001)

Netherlands ($2501)

Oman ($5001)

Hong Kong ($5001)

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Which two teams are favoured to make the final of the ICC World T20?

It’s hard to see the favoured Indians not at least making the final. Any thing less would be a failure in the minds of the cricket mad nation. But their is stiff competition. We have tipped the West Indians to bash and crash their way to the title, so we like their odds of $4 to be there when the whips are cracking. The Poms’ effort in South Africa was sub standard, while the air of invincibility around Proteas cricket seems to have faded. We reckon the two sides with the best chance of making it outside of the Indians, have only just played each other in Tests – Australia and New Zealand.

India ($1.83)

South Africa ($3)

Australia ($3.10)

England ($3.75)

West Indies ($4)

New Zealand ($5.50)

Pakistan ($5.50)

Sri Lanka ($7)

Bangladesh ($18)

Hong Kong ($501)

Oman ($501)

Ireland ($501)

Scotland ($501)

Afghanistan ($501)

Netherlands ($501)

Zimbabwe ($501)

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Who will score the most runs in the ICC World T20 tournament?

Indian heavy weight Virat Kohl and do it all South African superstar AB de Villiers share favouritism to score the most runs for the entire tournament. And for good reason. They are both men who possess the consistency and ability to single handedly carry their nation to World T20 glory. But there is one guy from Australia who is fast becoming known as a master of the shortest form of the game. The brilliant Usman Khawaja makes the game look easy, using his skills to blast bowling attacks all over the park and, at $10, looks like real value. Rohm Sharma had a dominant tour of Australia and must be considered, while deeper in the book, Alex Hales could be a sneaky pick at $15.

Virat Kohli ($8)

AB de Villiers ($8)

David Warner ($10)

Usman Khawaja ($10)

Rohit Sharma ($10)

Quinton de Kock ($11)

Chris Gayle ($13)

Hashim Amla ($15)

Joe Root ($15)

Alex Hales ($15)

Steve Smith ($17)

Shikhar Dhawan ($17)

Kane Williamson ($17)

Shane Watson ($19)

Faf du Plessis ($21)

Martin Guptill ($21)

Mohammad Hafeez ($21)

Odds provided by Crownbet.com.au

Which bowler will take the most wickets in the ICC World T20 tournament?

The spinners dominate the top wicket taker markets with the first four bowlers in the market all turning their attention to the slow stuff. Pakistani speedster Mohammad Amir is the only quick in the top five, at $17, while Indian superstar Ravichandran Ashwin is the popular pick on his home wickets, which are expected to take plenty of turn, as is the tradition. But our pick is a bloke who had only just recently returned from the wilderness in Ashish Nehra. The Indian seamer has always been a wicket taker and should get plenty of opportunities on wickets he knows like the back of his hand. At great odds too of $21.

Ravichandran Ashwin ($10)

Imran Tahir ($13)

Adil Rashid ($17)

Ravindra Jadeja ($17)

Mohammad Amir ($17)

Adam Zampa ($21)

Ashish Nehra ($21)

Rangana Herath ($21)

Lasith Malinga ($21)

Kagiso Rabada ($21)

Samuel Badree ($21)

James Faulkner ($26)

John Hastings ($26)

Josh Hazlewood ($26)

Jasprit Bumrah ($26)

Ish Sodhi ($26)

Mohammad Nawaz ($26)

Odds provided by CrownBet.com.au

Which batsman will hit the most sixes in the ICC World T20?

Hard to go past the master blaster West Indian Chris Gayle in this one. Plenty of bowlers will be blushing when he tees off, but the bloke who might be his biggest challenger is Big Bash League superstar and team mate Andre Russell. It’s a big call, but Russell might actually hit them further than Gayle. If he gets chances, he will send plenty over the rope and could be a great pick at $13.

Chris Gayle ($7)

AB de Villiers ($10)

Martin Guptill ($13)

Andre Russell ($13)

Rohit Sharma ($13)

David Warner ($15)

Colin Munro ($17)

Glenn Maxwell ($19)

Aaron Finch ($19)

Corey Anderson ($21)

Alex Hales ($21)

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Will ICC World T20 tournament records be broken in 2016?

Sportsbet.com.au had come up with a few novelty bets for records to be broken.

Given the slow decks in India, it’s hard to see many of these records being broken, but maybe if one of the minnow sides can sneak out of their qualifying group, there could be a monster smashing awaiting.

Any Team to Beat Sri Lanka record of 260 Runs in a Single Innings – Yes ($9)

Any Player to Beat Chris Gayles record of 10 6s in a Singles Innings – Yes ($6.50)

Any Team to score Less than Netherlands 39 runs v Sri Lanka 2014 (Games that have reduced overs do not count) – Yes ($26)

Any Player to Beat Brendon McCullum’s score of 123 Runs in a Single Innings – Yes ($3.75)

Any Player to Beat Virat Kohli’s Record of 319 Runs in a Single Tournament – Yes ($2.88)

Any Player to Beat Ajantha Mendis Record of 15 Wickets in a Single Tournament – Yes ($13)

Who will hit a century during the ICC World T20?

Usman is our man again. We reckon $6.50 is money for jam, given the form he has been in. Blasts tons for fun in T20 competition and will provide a great interest throughout the tournament. Hales at odds is a goodie and Martin Guptill hammered the Aussies at times in the tests and is more than capable of scoring a ton in very quick time.

Usman Khawaja ($6.50)

Chris Gayle ($6.50)

Rohit Sharma ($7)

AB de Villiers ($7)

David Warner ($7)

Virat Kohli ($8.50)

Shane Watson ($9)

Quinton de Kock ($9)

Alex Hales ($9.50)

Martin Guptill ($11)

Aaron Finch ($11)

Shikhar Dhawan ($11)

Tillakaratne Dilshan ($13)

Mohammad Hafeez ($13)

Lendl Simmons ($13)

Kane Williamson ($13)

Glenn Maxwell ($15)

Colin Munro ($15)

Steve Smith ($15)

Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au