Cricket Tips: England Well Set for T20 World Cup Glory
All eyes are on India and Sri Lanka as the T20 Cricket World Cup gets underway.
Defending champions India will fancy their chances on home soil but two-time winners England are looking to reclaim their crown.
Australia, New Zealand and South Africa will all be in with solid shouts while, at the other end of the betting, debutants Italy will aim to spring one of the biggest surprises of all time.
Here, we look at the markets and pick out three of the best selections for the T20 World Cup…
Tip 1 – England to win the T20 World Cup @ 9/2
Fresh from a 3-0 T20 series win in Sri Lanka, England look to have put the red ball disappointment of the winter behind them.
They have won three T20 series in a row and the only side to beat them in their last 10 series is the number one-ranked India, who did so on two occasions.
England, though, have shown in the past that they have what it takes to win this tournament on two occasions – in 2010 and 2024.
Of course, India on home soil are going to be hard to beat but the Lions have beaten them in a T20 World Cup before when securing a 10-wicket win on the way to that 2022 triumph.
Harry Brook’s men are in good form and, when on song, few can handle their devastating batting lineup and explosive scoring.
Just ask South Africa, who were subjected to an astonishing 304-2 by England back in September.
They should have no issues with the group stage. Italy, Nepal, Scotland and the West Indies shouldn’t worry them too much – the Windies were beaten 3-0 in England just last year.
Odds of 9/2 are an appealing price for a side that is blending the experience of the likes of Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid with the emerging Jacob Bethell and Rehan Ahmed.
It has been a period filled with turmoil for the English cricket team. Taking back the World T20 title would be a fantastic way to show everyone that is now behind them.
Tip 2 – Cameron Green top run scorer for Australia @ 19/4
Australia are looking to claim the world title for the second time and arrive in India and Sri Lanka off the back of a profitable red ball summer – but also a 3-0 T20 series defeat to Pakistan.
Drawn in Group B, the 2021 champion Aussies don’t have the easiest pathway with Sri Lanka among their group rivals.
That disappointing series in Pakistan saw the Australians struggle with the bat, with 146 their top score in the three games (98 and 106 being the other two).
Cameron Green top-scored for his side in the series and in two of the matches. His 93 runs won’t set the world alight but at least showed a bit of resolve in a batting lineup that otherwise failed miserably.
He will be hoping to transition those starts into bigger scores on the world stage and the 19/4 is a long price.
He averages 32.31 in this format and has six T20 50s to his name in 23 innings.
Batting at three he should get ample opportunity to put runs on the board – especially if the openers perform as they did in Pakistan, with neither of them getting into the 30s.
Australia will need to be much improved but the likes of Green can rally and show why they are ranked second in the world.
Tip 3 – Phil Salt top run scorer in T20 World Cup @ 11/1
England’s openers will be one of the keys to their success in the tournament.
Buttler and Phil Salt will be tasked with getting the Lions off to a fast, but reliable, start as they search for a third world crown.
Salt, in particular, is playing well. He has three half-centuries and a 46 in his last seven innings and an overall T20 average of 37.78.
His top score, a blockbuster 141 not out, came last summer against South Africa. Off just 60 balls and with 23 boundaries, how England would love him to repeat this later in the competition.
He scored 188 runs in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Buttler was the top scorer for England with 214, but we’re backing the 29-year-old to outscore his opening partner on this occasion… and everyone else too.
That unbeaten 141 was enough to see him top the scoring charts for the series against South Africa and, though the World Cup is well stocked with talented batsmen, this format seems to get the best out of him.
The 11/1 for him to top score in the competition will hinge on how well England do, but with players coming into form and others with a point to prove, a third World Cup title could be on the horizon – and Salt can fire them to glory.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
