Richard Mann has some strong fancies in his specials preview for the Cricket World Cup, including a 66/1 treble and a top tournament batsman pick.
Cricket betting tips: 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup
2pts Shubman Gill top tournament runscorer at 8/1 (Coral, Ladbrokes)
2pts Ibrahim Zadran top Afghanistan tournament runscorer at 11/4 (Sky Bet)
2pts Najmul Shanto top Bangladesh tournament runscorer at 4/1 (Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook)
0.5pt trixie (3x doubles 1x treble) Zadran top Afghanistan bat at 2/1, Shanto top Bangladesh bat at 4/1, Gill top India bat at 21/10 (Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook)
2pts Rassie van der Dussen top South Africa tournament runscorer at 5/1 (Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook)
1pt Keshav Maharaj top South Africa tournament wicket-taker at 10/1 (Coral, Ladbrokes)
All roads lead to Gill for top batsman
The top runscorer in each of the last four editions of the Cricket World Cup has been an opening batsmen, and SHUBMAN GILL is strongly fancied to continue that trend and cap what has been a stellar year for Indian cricket's latest run machine.
The 24-year-old has long looked capable of proving himself the real deal, and 2023 has been a real coming of age year for Gill who finished the Indian Premier League as the competition’s leading runscorer with the help of three centuries.
He has carried that form into international cricket and in this year alone, Gill has amassed 1230 runs at a staggering average of 72.35. That tally came from only 20 appearances, with five hundreds and five more half-centuries.
An elegant right hander with a classical technique, Gill has developed into a genuine 360 player and comes into the World Cup in prime form having reeled off scores of 74 and 104 in the recent series victory over Australia, that hot on the heels of his century against Bangladesh at the back end of the Asia Cup.
Of all the other opening batsmen in the competition, only Englishman Jonny Bairstow looks capable of matching the sort of numbers Gill has been recording of late and though a much smaller sample size, Gill’s career average of 66.10 suggests we might just be dealing with something extra special here.
Given hosts India look sure to go very deep in the competition and that Gill will know conditions well, he makes rock-solid appeal. Odds of 8/1 are hardly a gift, but probably aren't short enough in a format that Gill has dominated in the last year.
Zadran and Shanto can shine for strugglers
With Gill already in the book for top overall tournament batsman, I can leave him alone in singles for top India tournament batsman, instead using him to form a trixie (three doubles and a treble) with IBRAHIM ZADRAN for top Afghanistan tournament batsman and NAJMUL SHANTO for top Bangladesh tournament batsman.
I make the case here as to why the latter-named pair could prove to be two of the breakout stars of this World Cup, and I’ll be disappointed if both don’t prove top of their class in India. With nine group games ahead of each team, one would hope the cream will rise to the top, and this pair certainly stand out.
Zadran is much the best of an Afghanistan batting line-up that is likely to struggle in India and though still only 21 years of age, he has already managed four hundreds in ODIs, with his average having swelled to 53.58.
A beautiful timer of the ball with a very good technique, Zadran looks to have the game to succeed across formats, but 50-over cricket is the perfect fit right now for a player who is no slouch but tends to go at his own pace in an otherwise frenetic line-up. Zadran is the archetypical ‘anchor’ and ideal for top batsman purposes.
The case for Shanto is equally strong and in my eyes, 4/1 rates the best bet of the tournament.
This is a terrific player for whom the penny has really dropped in the last 12 months or so, averaging 49.85 in this format since the start of 2023 when making two hundreds and five fifties.
His importance to Bangladesh was highlighted at the recent Asia Cup when a hamstring tear forced him out of the competition after only two matches, that coming after knocks of 89 and 104. Back to full fitness, Shanto top scored with 76 against New Zealand just over a week ago.
We know he likes the big stage, too, having starred when England visited Bangladesh earlier in the year, striking two fifties in the ODI series and adding 144 runs in the three subsequent T20Is.
As ever, Shakib Al Hasan looms as a big danger in this market, but he won’t be batting until number six and though his form has been good, he still hasn’t scored as heavily as Shanto has been doing.
I prefer the coming man and at the prices, am very keen to strike a decent bet. Back him (4/1) and Zadran (11/4) in singles and make up the trixie with Gill.
Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook are two of a few firms offering multiples on this market, and they come out best for a trixie on this particular trio, with odds of 21/10 on Gill, 4/1 for Shanto and 2/1 about Zadran.
Sky Bet have priced up a RequestABet Special on the trio at a generous 66/1 for anyone purely wanting to back the treble.
If you can get on with both, then backing doubles at Paddy Power or Betfair and the treble with Sky Bet is the way to squeeze maximum value out of it.
Sporting Life RequestABet
I had considered making up a yankee with Trent Boult for top New Zealand tournament bowler, given the left arm paceman looks a very solid option on the back of his impressive return to the national set-up.
He bowled brilliantly in England, picking up eight wickets in two matches, and his vast experience of playing in the IPL, and taking plenty of wickets with the new ball in these conditions, means he has to be seriously considered.
However, though he was New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker at the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, he wasn’t in Australia a year later, or in the 50-over World Cup in England back in 2015.
As such, even with Sky Bet dangling the carrot at 9/4, he’s one shorty I’m happy to leave alone.
South Africa duo appeal on value grounds
The final two singles centre around South Africa, my value pick in the outright market.
There’s so much power in this South African top six that I’m convinced they have a deep run in them if things fall into place, but having a rock around whom those big hitters can bat will be crucial, and RASSIE VAN DER DUSSEN fits the bill perfectly.
Van der Dussen won’t make the headlines like Quinton de Kock or Heinrich Klaasen might, but he boasts a terrific record in this format and tends to score big once finding his groove. Pencilled in to bat at number three, he should be able to do just that.
A ODI average of 56.78 is very healthy indeed, and the four hundreds and 12 fifties he has scored in those 49 appearances confirms his ability to make big runs if getting a start.
I love the fact that he’ll more often than not be tasked with controlling the South African innings while others look to take the game on, and across a long tournament, I’m hoping slow and steady can win the race for van der Dussen.
He’s no 5/1 shot for top South Africa tournament batsman anyway, and having finished the recent series against Australia with scores of 62 and 30, his form looks to be there.
With Coral and Ladbrokes going 10/1 about KESHAV MAHARAJ for top South Africa tournament wicket-taker, I’ll complete the staking plan with the left arm spinner.
Injury to Anrich Nortje means the door has been left ajar in this market and as the Proteas' number one spinner, Maharaj looks a huge player – not least because he took eight wickets on four flat pitches against Australia recently.
He’s clearly bowling well at present and with Indian conditions likely to offer him more assistance than he generally enjoys at home, he could well become South Africa’s trump card over the next few weeks.
A crucial factor to consider when betting in the top tournament bowler markets is that there are nine group games before the semi-finals, meaning teams are likely to rest and rotate their quick bowlers if they feel they can. I don’t see that happening with the spinners, especially not Maharaj who offers handy batting down the order.
10/1 is way out, though anything north of 6/1 would be a bet.
Preview published at 1330 BST on 02/10/2023
Also read: Richard Mann on Ben Stokes' return
- Click the image for full column
Also read: Richard Mann's England v New Zealand preview
- Click the image for analysis and best bets
Related links
- Click here for Sky Bet's World Cup odds
- Cricket World Cup: Outright preview
- England v New Zealand preview
- Cricket World Cup: Team-by-team guide
- Paul Krishnamurty's cricket betting masterclass
- Cricket World Cup: Under the radar players
- Cricket Only Bettor World Cup podcast Part I
- Cricket Only Bettor World Cup podcast Part II
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org
