/ Editor / 02 March 2007 /

Expectant squads and spectators are arriving in the Caribbean for what should be a run filled World Cup tournament. One Day cricket is a batsman's game nowadays and the small West Indian grounds are sure to host some explosive batting from the game's big hitters.

Each of the four highest ever ODI totals have come in the last 12 months and the in-form batsmen who have made those totals, will be relishing this rare chance to face the bowling attacks of the game's minnows in the tournament group stages.

High scoring in World Cups is not restricted to these mismatched contests, as Australia proved in the final last time around. The Aussie batsmen smashed India for 359-2 in that anti-climax to the 2003 tournament, thanks mainly to Ricky Ponting's unbeaten 140.

The Australian skipper is the current favourite to top the runscoring charts at 9.4. He actually had a relatively quiet time in South Africa until the final, as that spectacular 121 ball knock took his tournament tally to 415 runs at an average of 51.87.

'Punter' remains convinced that his side remain the team to beat, despite their recent troubles, and the same might be said about him in this market. Ponting mustered only 798 ODI runs at 36.27 in 2006 and he possesses a poor record in the Caribbean: he has the third biggest negative difference between career average (42.48) and average in the West Indies (26.41) of anyone to have played ODIs.

However, Ponting has been in fine form this year with only Matthew Hayden scoring more than his 445 runs at 74.16. He of course sat out Australia's miserable trip to New Zealand and returns fresh and back pain-free to lead his team's attempt to retain the trophy. Ponting cruised to the top of the runscoring charts in the Ashes and Commonwealth Bank Series and many punters expect him to complete a hat trick in the Caribbean.

Ponting's 2003 runs haul was the third highest, behind Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar. Both men are key components of India's World Cup campaign, but most eyes will be on the 'Little master', the top runscorer in World Cup history.

Tendulkar's 673 runs in 2003 - the most ever scored in one tournament - took his total to 1732, 649 more than second on the list, Javed Miandad. Tendulkar also top scored in the 1996 tournament and will want perform well in his fifth and probably final World Cup tournament appearance.

The Indian superstar trades at 20 to top this market and his backers will be encouraged by his recent form of three half centuries and a ton in his last seven innings. Amazingly he has only played six ODIs in the West Indies, from which he averages 54.5.

The great batting hope for the hosts - along with Brian Lara of course - is Jamaican blaster Chris Gayle. The once impetuous left hander has controlled his attacking instincts and can usually be relied upon to give his team a good start at the top of the innings.

Gayle was the second highest ODI runscorer of 2006, hitting 1217 runs at 41.96, and he goes into the tournament fifth in the world rankings. He is available at 18.5 (the current second favourite) and is also the key man in the West Indies' title bid due to his underrated offspin.

Gayle's captain and mentor is for once something of an outsider in the World Cup top runscorer market. Lara trades at 29 to top the market, as his output has dropped in the twilight of his career. Since hitting 156 against Pakistan in January 2005, 38 ODI appearances have yielded no centuries and just five fifties.

Another left hander who is in better form is Kumar Sangakkara. The Sri Lankan keeper batsman was the highest ODI runscorer last year, hitting 1333 runs at 44.43. He arrives in the Caribbean seventh in the world rankings and is available at a tasty 24.

Some punters might have been put off by his World Cup pedigree - he averaged only 25.14 in the 2003 tournament. Sri Lanka trade at 11 to lift the trophy, but even if Sri Lanka (semi finalists last time around) depart at the Super Eight stage, Sangakkara should have played nine games.

An appearance in the second round would be unfamiliar territory for England, who have fallen at the first hurdle in the last two tournaments. Their hopes rest in a large part on Kevin Pietersen, who returns to the line-up after injuring a rib at the beginning of the Commonwealth Bank Series.

Pietersen's ODI average of 56.5 is the second highest ever amongst players with careers of 20 innings or more, maintenance of that average in the Caribbean should mean a return for his backers in this market. The Hampshire man is fourth in the world rankings and is currently on offer at 19.

Michael Hussey tops both the rankings list and the all time averages chart, yet trades at 32 in this market. He is relatively unfancied not due to a lack of form - he hit 160 runs in three innings in New Zealand - but because he often bats too low down the Aussie order to build a large innings. Those expecting the holders to struggle might expect 'Mr Cricket' to be called upon more often and be a force in this market.

For the same reason that Hussey is an outsider, his compatriots Hayden and Adam Gilchrist are amongst the favourites. The Aussie openers have had contrasting fortunes recently. Hayden has hit 606 runs at 55.09 this year, including an Australian record 181against the Kiwis, but will miss the opening matches with a broken toe. He is available at 25.

Gilchrist has struggled in 2007, amassing just 222 runs at 22.2, slipping to tenth in the world rankings. He had a good tournament last time around, finishing as the fourth highest run scorer and ending with a typically belligerent half century in the final. He trades at 20.

The Aussies are clearly well represented in this market, suggesting they have more match winners than their main rivals. Punters have identified Graeme Smith as South Africa's main batting threat. The Proteas skipper, available at 19, has three half centuries in his last five knocks and might prove good value if his team go the distance.

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