England‘s two ICC World Twenty20 warm-up opponents are both confident they have done their homework and are ready to make their mark in an ICC tournament this time.
Unlike England, South Africa have already won one world event but have often been accused of ‘choking’ at the crucial moment – a tag they were unable to erase when they lost in the semi-finals of the last World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge just under a year ago.
Ravi Bopara is impatient to show England how much he has improved since he last played for his country. Bopara can expect an early chance too to demonstrate the benefit he has derived from playing for Auckland and then in the Indian Premier League this past winter.
Kevin Pietersen‘s expected absence from England‘s first ICC World Twenty20 warm-up match against Bangladesh, after spending a little precious time at home with his pregnant wife, means there is likely to be a vacancy at number three on Wednesday.
William Hill now have Afghanistan as a big five figure liability to win the Twenty20 World Cup that starts at the weekend and should they win they will cost three times as much as an England victory! Hills offer 5/1 that Afghanistan win a match. Australia are the 3/1 favourites to win the cup with India well backed at 9/2 and England 10/1 outsiders.
“England have been friendless all week and even Afghanistan would could us more,” said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.
William Hill ICC World Twenty20: 3/1 Australia, 4/1 South Africa, 9/2 India, 11/2 Sri Lanka, 7/1 Pakistan, 10/1 West Indies, 10/1 England, 12/1 New Zealand, 66/1 Bangladesh, 250/1 Zimbabwe, 250/1 Afghanistan, 500/1 Ireland.
England Batsman To Score The Most Sixes: 2/1 Pietersen, 5/2 Kieswetter, 5/1 Lumb, 5/1 Collingwood, 6/1 Bopara, 8/1 Wright, 10/1 Morgan
England Top Bat: 3/1 Kevin Pietersen, 9/2 Ravi Bopara, 4/1 Craig Kieswetter, 9/2 Michael Lumb, 9/1 Paul Collingwood, 5/1 Eoin Morgan, 12/1 Michael Yardy, 14/1 Luke Wright, 66/1 Stuart Broad, 50/1 Graeme Swann
England Top Bowler: 7/4 Swann, 3/1 Anderson, 7/2 Stuart Broad, 6/1 Tim Bresnan, 12/1 James Tredwell, 14/1 Ryan Sidebottom, 25/1 Shahzad, 25/1 Luke Wright, 25/1 Paul Collingwood
