COLOMBO, March 10: The first ball of the World Cup has not yet been bowled, but a virtual tournament is already in full swing, with the online gaming industry betting Australia will lift the title for a third successive time.

Having clinched the last two trophies, bookmakers are tipping the Aussies to win with odds of 12/5, followed by South Africa 9/2, host West Indies 7.7/1, Sri Lanka 8.5/1 and India 9/1.

Weaker teams such as Zimbabwe are 500/1, Kenya, 750/1 and Scotland at 1500/1.

The online gaming industry agrees that this year's tournament is the most competitive, with many of the top teams peaking at the right time.

“Australia's form has been abysmal in the last few games...but they still remain our favourites to win in the Caribbean,” sportingbet.com advises.

The West Indies open the 2007 World Cup against Pakistan in Jamaica on Tuesday, but bookies gently remind punters that a host nation has never lifted the trophy.

The Cup has been jinxed for the hosts ever since the competition started in England in 1975.

“Much is written of the mysterious ‘home advantage’ factor, and punters and bookies alike allow some sway for this,” says readabet.com which claims South Africa, packed with all-rounders, could also tip the scales.

“Skipper Graeme Smith at the top of the order is arguably the best opener in the game, in fine form and is one of the best skippers, whilst A.B. de Villiers, Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs are all formidable in the top to middle order.”

For the Cup's top hitters of sixes, West Indian Chris Gayle and Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya tie with odds of 9/1, followed by Australia's Adam Gilchrist, England's Kevn Pietersen, and Indian wicket-keeper M.S. Dhoni who equally have odds of 10/1.

With odds of 9/2, Kallis is the favourite all-rounder, while Gilchrist, with odds of 2/1, is tipped to be the best wicket-keeper.

Incidentally, Gilchrist, Gayle and Jayasuriya are also favourites to score the fastest 100 in the tournament with odds of 10/1.

Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan shares the tournament's favourite bowler slot with the Proteas' Makhaya Ntini and New Zealand paceman Shane Bond with odds of 12/1.

Bookmakers predict debutants de Villiers and Australia's Michael Clarke will score most runs with odds of 5/1.

Australia's Nathan Bracken is a favourite to take the most wickets with odds of 9/4, followed by West Indies Jerome Taylor and Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga with odds of 7/2.

Oddschecker.com tips Jamaica and St Lucia with 25/19 as the grounds that will generate most runs followed by Antigua with 17/12.

Punters have not ruled out the three sub-continent powerhouses, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, all former winners of the World Cup, from lifting the Cup, with odds of 9/4.

But are there takers for bets on Canada or Ireland with odds of 2500/1 to lift the trophy?—AFP