Australia v West Indies preview, player tips & predictions

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MATCH INFO
Australia v West Indies
Venue: Trent Bridge, Nottingham, Thursday, June 6, 10.30am (British time)
Head to head odds: Australia $1.44; West Indies $2.75.
Last time they met: Australia 9-270 (50 overs) d West Indies 212 (45.4 overs) in Bridgetown, June 26, 2016.

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This looks a fascinating clash between a perennial contender and an emerging team which hopes to return to the glory days of the distant past.

Australia were all business in their opening victory, while the West Indies were powerful in disposing of Pakistan, who have since shocked the tournament with a big win over host nation and favourites England.

The West Indies have been on the up for a few years, becoming a real force again in Twenty20 cricket and now starting to show similar signs in one-day international cricket. They have regained stars such as Chris Gayle and Andre Russell after a long pay dispute and look ready to push deep into this tournament. This match against the Australians will be a real measure of how far they have come and whether they are serious contenders.

Australia have had problems of their own, but they run into imperious form in the lead-up to this World Cup, coming from behind to win a series against India and then thrashing Pakistan on the road.

We expect a high-scoring after the latest game at Trent Bridge on Monday produced almost 700 runs. The first game there last weekend featured a disastrous Pakistan collapse, though, and they only just scraped past 100, a total the West Indies overhauled with a minimum of fuss.

If you don’t fancy the head-to-head market, there are plenty of other options available with leading cricket bookmaker
William Hill, and it’s worth double checking the website on the day of the match as the sportsbook has been offering enhanced odds on certain outcomes.

This Australia-West Indies betting preview will run you through a few of the betting options for match 10 of 48 of the ICC World Cup 2019.

Australia v West Indies odds:

For full markets visit the William Hill website.

HEAD TO HEAD BETTING:
Australia $1.44, West Indies $2.75
Prediction: Australia are deserved favourites and have won their past nine ODIs, but we think the teams should be rated a little closer in this market, so we will look elsewhere for a bet on this clash.

TOP RUN-SCORER BETTING:

Australia:
Top five in betting: David Warner $3.75, Aaron Finch $4.33, Usman Khawaja $4.50, Steve Smith $4.50, Shaun Marsh $7.

Top scorers from past five ODIs:
v Afghanistan: David Warner 89no
v Pakistan: Usman Khawaja 98
v Pakistan: Glenn Maxwell 98
v Pakistan: Aaron Finch 90
v Pakistan: Aaron Finch 153no

West Indies:
Top five in betting: Chris Gayle $4, Shai Hope $4, Evin Lewis $5, Darren Bravo $6, Shimron Hetmyer $6.

Top scorers from past five ODIs:
v Pakistan: Chris Gayle 50
v Bangladesh: Shai Hope 74
v Bangladesh: Shai Hope 87
v Ireland: Sunil Ambris 148
v Bangladesh: Shai Hope 109

Top batter prediction: We tipped Shai Hope first-up against Pakistan but it was the veteran Chris Gayle who topped the charts for the West Indies. This time, we will stick with Hope at $4 will William Hill. Australia boast a quick and dangerous pair of opening bowlers in Cummins and Starc and Hope will likely be a little more watchful than Gayle. For Australia, the unflappable David Warner batted patiently for unbeaten 89 in his first knock. His form since coming back from his ball-tampering ban has been phenomenal, so will back him to dominate the Windies’ attack on a pretty flat pitch.

TOP WICKET-TAKER BETTING:

Australia:
Top five in betting: Mitchell Starc $3.50, Pat Cummins $4, Adam Zampa $4.50, Kane Richardson $4.50, Nathan Coulter-Nile $5, Jason Behrendorff $5, Nathan Lyon $5.

Top wicket-takers from past five ODIs:
v Afghanistan: Pat Cummins 3-40, Adam Zampa 3-60
v Pakistan: Jason Behrendorff 3-63
v Pakistan: Nathan Coulter-Nile 3-53
v Pakistan: Adam Zampa 4-43
v Pakistan: Jhye Richardson 2-16, Nathan Coulter-Nile 2-52

West Indies:
Top five in betting: Kemar Roach $4.33, Jason Holder $4.33, Shannon Gabriel $4.50, Sheldon Cottrell $4.50, Oshane Thomas $4.50.

Top wicket-takers from past five ODIs:
v Pakistan: Oshane Thomas 4-27
v Bangladesh: Shannon Gabriel 2-30, Raymon Reifer 2-23
v Bangladesh: Ashley Nurse 3-53
v Ireland: Shannon Gabriel 2-47
v Bangladesh: Shannon Gabriel 1-58, Roston Chase 1-51

Top bowler tip: Left-armer Mitchell Starc was menacing early against Afghanistan but it was largely the other bowlers who claimed the actual wickets. We still feel Starc is ready to emerge as a superstar in ODI cricket again, after his dominance of the World Cup four years ago. So we will stay in his corner at the $3.50 for at least another match. The West Indies attack is very even, so we will likely leave this market alone this time, although it’s fair to say Oshane Thomas looked in great form with his first-up four-wicket haul.

WGL best bets: Australia v West Indies

Each of our ICC World Cup betting previews will highlight some potential wins for punters, or where our cricket tipsters think there is value to be found.

Windies to score most sixes and win

If you fancy the West Indies to win the match, this is a handy way top beef up the odds to an attractive $4 with William Hill, because if they do win it’s likely a few of their power hitters such as Chris Gayle and Andre Russell will have planted more than a few deliveries out of the ground.

David Warner man of the match

The tough little left-hander the fans love to hate has a steely resolve about him. No amount of heckling from the crowd seems to slip under his guard and once he gets in form, he tends to stay in form. You might hate him a little less if he delivers another key knock and wins man of the match for you at odds around $8, which you may find enhanced on match day.

Australia v West Indies prediction

Another belter of a match in what is shaping as a tremendous World Cup. England’s upset loss to Pakistan has changed things up a little and both of these teams would love to put their names forward in this one. We think Australia will win another absorbing contest on the back of their more varied bowling attack.

ALSO READ:
ICC World Cup 2019 betting guide
ICC World Cup 2019 leading wicket-taker
ICC World Cup 2019 leading run-scorer
ICC World Cup 2019 player of tournament

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