Monte's Multiple / Jaymes Monte / 02 March 2010 /

This week's multiple cocktail includes a shot of International football, a dash of ODI cricket and a quart of Premier League Darts....

Bet One: International Football

Most International Friendlies are a nuisance and a hindrance to domestic level managers, but at least this one doesn't interrupt the flow of the Premier League and the main concern will be getting players back injury-free.

Having said that, a lot of these games seem pointless and it's hard to find any justification in them being played at such a crucial stage of the season. The best angle of attack here is to avoid the games which involve two sides that have not qualified for the World Cup; it is entirely probable that these teams will use the game as an opportunity to experiment with both team selection and tactics.

The game of the week is undoubtedly the fixture between the Euro 2008 Champions and the 2006 World Cup losing finalists. Spain are the deserved favourites for this year's World Cup and they have a full strength squad traveling to Paris to take on France . Unless the French have somehow improved dramatically without playing a game since that controversial win over Ireland then I don't see the Spaniards faltering here.

Selection: Back Spain to beat France @ [2.5]

Bet Two: Premier League of Darts

James Wade has struggled in this year's Premier League and three defeats out of three have provided him with the worst possible start to the defence of a title that he won in emphatic style at Wembley Arena last year. For a player of such undoubted talent it is extremely disappointing to see him underperforming.

His opponent in the Premier League this week is an equally frustrating player. Adrian Lewis showed against Raymond van Barneveld in week two just how good he can be but then reverted to another poor showing last week against Terry Jenkins. In an even money match I wouldn't know where to put my cash, but the bigger odds of [2.6] on Lewis looks like a good value bet on the premise that he has shown already in this campaign indicate how devastating he can be.

Selection: Back Lewis to beat Wade @ [2.6]

Bet Three: Cricket - New Zealand v Australia, 1st ODI

Australia's perfect summer ended in dramatic style last week with a Super Over defeat in the second Twenty20 match against New Zealand. The Aussies were set 215 to win but could only match the 214 posted by New Zealand and force a nail biting single over shootout.

Attentions now turn to a five match ODI series for which captain Ricky Ponting and a number of other reinforcements will return to the set-up. The Australian squad now possesses an embarrassment of riches which is envied the world over and they are the unsurprising favourites to win this match. However, New Zealand's showing in that second T20 match proved that they are not intimidated by their neighbours and if Brendon McCullum can pick up where he left off - he hit an unbeaten 116 from 56 balls which included eight 6's - then there has to be a lot of value in backing the hosts at the [3.5] available.

Selection: Back New Zealand to beat Australia @ [3.5], 1st ODI

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