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[u]Outright market[/u] Despite the helter-skelter nature of Twenty20, one can usually rely on statistics to ensure that a wager emerges from a pack of eight sides who can expect to go close to glory, and the third edition of this tournament is no different. South Africa are third favourites and at 7.2 they represent solid value. They impressed greatly on their tour of England yet it is consistency which is the most important factor. With a win percentage of 69 in the last two years, they are the comfortably the most reliable. The balance South Africa have also inspires confidence. AB De Villiers, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla can score quick runs up top, Albie Morkel can blast big numbers in the middle while with the ball the canny limited-overs pace bowling of Dale Steyn and ...

[u]England[/u] The home side could give Twenty20 debuts to Alex Hales, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes. Hales, an elegant opener, has long been earmarked for international recognition. Buttler is a biffer who has impressed for Somerset while Stokes is a stocky allrounder from Durham. The side will be led by Stuart Broad. In terms of a captain match bet against MS Dhoni, it is no contest. We should expect some odd decisions from Broad, who has an awful lot to learn. [u]India[/u] There is no Virender Sehwag or Ishant Sharma for India but Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are available. Praveen Kumar and RP Singh could form a handy new-ball attack. [u]Venue and conditions [/u]Old Trafford has a reputation for pace and bounce, qualities which are unlikely to bring the best out of the...

[b]A prolific wicket-taker but never a great, is it time to terminate the Turbanator's Test career[/b] Amongst off-spinners, India's [b]Harbhajan Singh[/b] is the second highest wicket taker in Test history and the third highest Test wicket-taker from all Indians. Since his international debut in 1998 in Australia his career has been one of some quality interspersed with great moments, yet he has never threatened greatness. Despite his numbers he enjoys an exulted eminence inconsistent with his form. A question over his bowling action punctuated with regular bouts of surliness has tarnished his career and it is possible that these negatives have blurred some of his achievements, at least to some of us. Some say his difficult attitude assisted in countering the bullying tactics...

[b]Ed Hawkins cannot see much hope for the tourists as they try to get back into the series at Edgbaston with the action beginning on Wednesday.[/b] [b]England[/b] It will be same again for the hosts apart from the one well-documented change with [b]Ravi Bopara[/b] replacing the injured Jonathan Trott. Bopara is hardly like-for-like. Trott is obdurate, dependable, old world. Bopara is flashy, risky and thrilling. He has waited patiently for his chance to come round again. He has not played since being dropped from the 2009 Ashes team. Earlier in the summer he had appeared to go head-to-head with Eoin Morgan for the No 6 slot. "This little window of opportunity for me is to go out and score some runs," he said. [b]India[/b] It's been a task to keep up with India's injury...

[b]Frank Gregan tells us why England need to replicate their Test form at ODI level before they can hold claim to being the best cricket playing nation in the world.[/b] Remember the good old days? "Ladies and Gentlemen, please show your appreciation for the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World..." These days boxing has more titles than the House of Lords and more belts than the luggage reclaim at Heathrow airport which dilutes the prestige. The best cricket team in the world is easier to identify. In the past, they've tended to dominate the game in both formats, [b]Test and ODIs[/b]. It seems that might be about to change as England look set to claim their place as the best Test team in the world but still have to win an ICC 50 over title. The praise for England has...

Normally when a team from Asia arrives in England for a Test tour it is easy to write them off. They won't like the cold weather, the green pitches, the swing bowling, etcetera. It is a tried and trusted method. Except when India are in town. They have bucked that particular trend on their last two visits: drawing 1-1 in 2007 and pulling off a spectacular, and richly-deserved, 1-0 victory in 2007. Make no mistake, England are in for a strenuous examination of their credentials when the series begins at Lord's next Thursday. If England claim the series by a two-Test margin or better they will usurp India as the best side in the world, leaping from their current No 3 spot. And it is tempting to suggest that, with both sides boasting fine recent records - England have won their last ...

[i]Team news [/i]On the grandest of stages for the greatest of prizes, Sri Lanka are taking the biggest of risks. Muttiah Muralitharan will play despite not being fit. It is a major gamble and one which the 2007 runners-up do not need to take. Sri Lanka need to find room for an allrounder at No 8 to take the pressure off their middle order. Currently Lasith Malinga is slated to come in at six down. That just does not wash. Dropping a spinner would be ideal and if it is not Murali then Rangana Herath could make way for either Nuwan Kulasekara or Chamara Kapugedara, primarily a batsman. Allrounder Angelo Matthews has been ruled out with Suraj Randiv taking his place in the squad, making it more pressing they find batting back-up. India could be without seamer Ashish Nehra who damaged...

On the face of it, the World Cup looks confusing: three host countries, 14 teams, 13 venues, 49 matches and six weeks to find a winner. But a much-maligned marathon of a tournament is actually the punters' friend. Thanks to a projected draw and India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh somehow managing to convince the ICC they are deserving of a home draws in the knockout stages, no matter where they finish, it is pretty simple. Simple in the regard that the tournament is heavily skewed in favour of India and Sri Lanka. On surfaces which the rest of the competing nations, Bangladesh and Pakistan excepted of course, find alien you won't be going far wrong by backing either MS Dhoni's team or Kumar Sangakkara's. India and Sri Lanka are on the opposite sides of the draw so there is a very real...