Betting

Pakistan can save Ladbrokes from a £500k payout by beating India tomorrow. They appear to have a tough task at the prices though as it's 4/7 India win the match with Pakistan 11/8 chances.

Following Ricky Ponting's ringing endorsement of Michael Clarke to succeed him as Australia's permanent Test captain, William Hill have made the current vice-captain the 1/10 red-hot favourite to get the job. Shane Watson is the 7/1 second favourite and Brad Haddin is 10/1.

The second World Cup semi final between India and Pakistan is set to be the biggest betting turnover match of this World Cup – possibly even the biggest ODI international of all time. William Hill have seen bets of up to £13,000 on India at 8/13 and the hosts are now 8/11 favourites. Tendulkar is once again the focus of the specials: he is 8/1 to be man of the match, 7/1 to score a hundred and 11/8 to score a fifty.

William Hill can report one way traffic for the first World Cup semi-final with almost 90% of the early money for Sri Lanka, who are 4/6 to beat New Zealand at 11/10. The latest cricket betting odds Hills offer are 11/2 that Sri Lanka get to 100 without losing a wicket and 25/1 that both openers score a hundred.

Following England's defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka, William Hill are offering 1/2 that Andrew Strauss is not captain for the next One Day International. Despite this, it appears likely that Strauss will stay as England test captain, with 8/1 offered that he quits the test captaincy. Hills make Kevin Pietersen the 3/1 favourite to take over the role, with Jonathan Trott 9/2. Current T20 captain, Paul Collingwood is 5/1, as is Ian Bell.

India have been cut to 6/4 for the Cricket World Cup by Ladbrokes. With the tournament now at the semi-final stage only Pakistan stand in their way of a berth in the final and it's 4/7 that they win that match (Pakistan 11/8).

Tournament favourites South Africa have once again choked at a Cricket World Cup – with bookies reporting it one of the biggest chokes in Cricket World Cup history, after they collapsed from 108 for two to be bowled out for 172 by New Zealand.

Sri Lanka's odds of beating England on Saturday morning have been cut by Ladbrokes. The bookmakers have trimmed a Sri Lankan victory to 4/9 (from 8/15) pushing England out to 7/4 despite the anticipated 'patriotic punt' this weekend.

British Sports fans are getting ready to place in excess of a million pounds worth of bets on the action this weekend according to Ladbrokes. The spread of action across the time zones means that fans are spoilt for choice with England starting proceedings as 6/4 underdogs against Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup. Later that afternoon the Three Lions are hot 2/5 favourites to beat Wales in Cardiff with the Welsh 7/1 to win.

England backers are pinning their hopes on Graeme Swann producing a match-winning performance tomorrow morning. He is 4/1 to take a wicket in his first over and over 87% of bets on top England bowler market are for Swann.

Victor Chandler make India their 13/8 favourites for the ICC World Cup after their 5-wicket victory over Australia earlier today.

Victor Chandler are offering 3/1 that England win both their Euro 2012 qualifier in Cardiff (2/5) and the ICC World Cup ¼ Final (13/8) in Colombo on Saturday.

Victor Chandler have opened a market on how many runs the great Sachin Tendulkar will score in Thursday’s 2nd quarter-final between India & Australia and make under 35 the marginal 5/4 favourite.

The first of the Cricket World Cup Quarter Finals kicks off on Wednesday morning, with the West Indies taking on Pakistan. Pakistan are 8/15 to defeat the Windies who are 6/4. All of the early money is for Pakistan with bets of up to four figures being taken on Afridi’s men to progress to the semi finals.

As the Cricket World Cup approaches the knockout stages Paddy Power make England one of the outsiders to eventually lift the trophy after Andrew Strauss’ team limped through the group stages. England are now 9/1 to win the World Cup, having been 6/1 when the tournament started.

South Africa have been cut to 7/2 by Ladbrokes for the Cricket World Cup. In response to the knockout stage draw the firm have cut the Proteas to 7/2 (from 4/1), shifting England out to 9/1 in the process. India remain the 3/1 market leaders and take on Australia with the co-hosts the 8/13 favourites to win the tie. It's 5/4 the Australians progress to the semi-finals.

England are 9/1 with Ladbrokes to fail to qualify from their group at the Cricket World Cup. A Bangladesh and West Indies double would be enough to knock them out of the tournament but thankfully for cricket fans and the bookies alike it's just 1/33 they make it through to the next stage.

In a match that all England cricket fans will be watching with crossed fingers, South Africa are 2/9 with William Hill to defeat Bangladesh (who are 10/3). Hills are offering top price on South Africa until the match starts. Hashim Amla is 11/4 to be South Africa’s top batsman...

England need to beat the West Indies to have any chance of progressing from their group and are 4/6 with William Hill to do so. England are 6/5 to be eliminated at the group stage and 6/4 to be a losing semi finalist.

South Africa's surprise defeat to England in the World Cup helped Ladbrokes enjoy their most lucrative day of the cricket World Cup so far. With India stuttering to victory over a spirited Irish side, the in-play markets went the way of the bookies.