ICC Champions Trophy Cricket Betting Guide

The Top ICC Betting Sites

The ICC Champions Trophy reaches its eighth edition in 2017 with the tournament heading back to England for the second time in four years. A 50 over format, it is often seen as a poor comparison to the ICC World Cup but here we have the best teams in One Day Internationals and we can expect some quality cricket and some thrills and drama along the way when the competition starts on June 1.

You can find a full list of fixtures here.

The hosts are favourites to win the trophy for the first time but will face a strong challenge from India and Australia as the tournament develops.

Here then, is your guide to the Champions Trophy of 2017 including a run down of the strongest sides, a look at the outside bets and an in depth analysis of India’s chances. Also included is a list of the best online cricket betting sites for the ICC Champions Trophy and a guide to this year’s format and the history of the tournament.

If you are new to online cricket betting, see our guide on how to bet online.

Where to Stream It?

You can live stream all matches of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy at Bet365.com. You only need to have an active account with a balance, or a bet placed within the previous 24 hours to view the live stream. They are covering the tournament through to the final on June 18th.

Streaming Schedule at Bet365:

Match Previews

June 1, 2017 – England vs Bangladesh

June 2, 2017 – Australia vs New Zealand

June 3, 2017 – Sri Lank vs South Africa

June 4, 2017 – India vs Pakistan

June 6, 2017 – England vs New Zealand

June 7, 2017 – Pakistan vs South Africa

June 8, 2017 – India vs Sri Lanka

June 10, 2017 – England vs Australia

June 11, 2017 – India vs South Africa

June 14, 2017 – England vs Pakistan – Semi Final 1

June 15, 2017 – Bangladesh vs India – Semi Final 2

June 18, 2017 – England vs Pakistan – Final

2017 ICC Tournament Odds

*For the purposes of this chart, the odds max out at 20.00 to maintain scale for the other teams.

June 15: Australia (OUT), Bangladesh (OUT), England (OUT), India (1.44), New Zealand (OUT), Pakistan (2.75), South Africa (OUT), Sri Lanka (OUT)

June 14: Australia (OUT), Bangladesh (13), England (OUT), India (1.66), New Zealand (OUT), Pakistan (2.5), South Africa (OUT), Sri Lanka (OUT)

June 12: Australia (OUT), Bangladesh (19), England (2.25), India (2.25), New Zealand (OUT), Pakistan (6.5), South Africa (OUT), Sri Lanka (OUT)

June 11: Australia (OUT), Bangladesh (15), England (2.3), India (2.3), New Zealand (OUT), Pakistan (11), South Africa (OUT), Sri Lanka (15)

June 10: Australia (67), Bangladesh (13), England (2.25), India (4.5), New Zealand (OUT), Pakistan (13), South Africa (4.33), Sri Lanka (17)

June 9: Australia (6), Bangladesh (26), England (2.62), India (5), New Zealand (67), Pakistan (13), South Africa (5.5), Sri Lanka (17)

June 8: Australia (6.5), Bangladesh (101), England (2.62), India (5.5), New Zealand (12), Pakistan (13), South Africa (6), Sri Lanka (17)

June 7: Australia (6), Bangladesh (101), England (4), India (4), New Zealand (12), Pakistan (15), South Africa (5.5), Sri Lanka (81)

June 6: Australia (5.5), Bangladesh (201), England (3), India (4), New Zealand (13), Pakistan (81), South Africa (4), Sri Lanka (101)

June 5: Australia (5.5), Bangladesh (201), England (3.6), India (4), New Zealand (8), Pakistan (67), South Africa (4), Sri Lanka (81)

June 4: Australia (4), Bangladesh (101), England (3.75), India (3.75), New Zealand (9), Pakistan (41), South Africa (4.5), Sri Lanka (67)

June 3: Australia (5), Bangladesh (101), England (3.75), India (5), New Zealand (10), Pakistan (21), South Africa (4), Sri Lanka (41)

June 2: Australia (4.5), Bangladesh (81), England (3.5), India (5), New Zealand (9), Pakistan (21), South Africa (4.5), Sri Lanka (34)

June 1: Australia (4), Bangladesh (101), England (3.5), India (5.5), New Zealand (10), Pakistan (21), South Africa (4.5), Sri Lanka (34)

May 26: Australia (3.5), Bangladesh (51), England (3.5), India (5.5), New Zealand (10), Pakistan (19), South Africa (5), Sri Lanka (29)

ICC Champions Trophy Betting Options

Below you will find an example of odds you will find at ICC cricket betting sites like Bet365. They offer a number of options for both individual matches, as well as the tournament as a whole. You can see the full list of odds by visiting www.Bet365.com.

Major Contenders for the ICC Trophy

England

Betting is quite tight at the top of the list but host nation England will start as favourites and are currently listed at 3.50 in the outrights with Bet365 and Betway (as of May 26). They have yet to win the ICC Champions Trophy but have reached the final twice, losing on home soil on both occasions in 2004 and 2013.

The feeling is that while England sides of the past have used home advantage to reach those finals without ever being at their best, this is a squad that is far better equipped for 50 over cricket anywhere in the world. Since Trevor Bayliss took over as coach from Peter Moores, the team have taken a fearless approach to the game and are now capable of reaching beyond team totals of 400.

Batting is key to their hopes with Alex Hales, who holds individual records in both short formats, joined by Jason Roy at the top of the order. Both enjoyed prolific white ball seasons in 2016 and they are followed by Captain Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler. They bat deep too with Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid among those able to rescue lost causes if there is a wobble at the top of the order.

England will hope that their spearhead, Mark Wood stays fit after some serious injury problems while this is an attack that could comfortably exploit English conditions. The extra pace of Plunkett, the swing of David Willey and the seam and bounce of Chris Woakes and Jake Ball complete a typically English attack that will cover for the lack of a world class spinner. Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali will offer those spin options but this is an area for opponents to target.

India

Like the rest of the subcontinental sides, India have been priced below England, Australia and South Africa in the outright betting but that won’t bother Virat Kohli’s men, particularly as they are the reigning champions.

They did it in English conditions too, so a best price of 5.50 with Bet365 (as of May 26) has to be a tempter ahead of the 2017 tournament.

Having just come to the end of their own season, this squad should be in decent shape but while the IPL is a completely different format, there is mixed form among the players involved. One concern could be over the skipper Virat Kohli who struggled after injury to come anywhere near the aggregate of runs that he recorded at IPL 9. Kohli was, however, in charge of a weak RCB side and a rest ahead of the Champions Trophy may be just what he needs.

Elsewhere, batting was decent through the competition with Shikhar Dhawan scoring heavily for the Sunrisers while MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Rohit Sharma are all in reasonable touch. Ajinkya Rahane was, however, another player to struggle and India will need him and Kohli to be back to their best.

Bhuvneshawar Kumar led the leading wicket takers at the IPL and his style will suit English conditions and Mohammed Shami will benefit too while it will be interesting to see how Jasprit Bumrah fares on these surfaces.

The spin of Ashwin and Jadeja should be negated to an extent but the pair will threaten in any conditions and Ashwin in particular can keep things tight in crucial overs.

Stats from 2013 also back up India here with Jadeja and Shikhar Dhawan leading the top wicket takers and top run scorers respectively. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ashwin also featured strongly here so India, despite their relatively distant price, have a real chance.

Australia

Second favourites to take the trophy at a top price of 4.00 with Bet365 (as of May 26), how much will Australia’s dispute with their own board affect their chances in England? Led by Steve Smith and backed up by Vice Captain David Warner, this is another squad where most players showed decent form at the IPL.

The real case in point here was Warner himself who headed the run charts at the end of the recent competition as his Sunrisers’ team went deep into the tournament. Smith led his Pune team well and, even though his own contributions with the bat were less consistent, he still finished in the top five for leading run scorers.

The third Aussie skipper at IPL 10, Glenn Maxwell, had a difficult start with Kings XI but recovered well and his own batting form looks sound coming into the Champions Trophy.

In the bowling department, the Australians will rely on pace rather than the sort of swing and seam that might suit English conditions but their spearhead, James Pattinson has been in great form during a short stint with his county Notts Outlaws. Pattinson, along with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood form a fearsome attack backed up by the improving leg spin of Adam Zampa and along with hosts England, Australia should make it comfortably out of Group A.

South Africa

A difficult twelve months for the South Africans has seen them lose a number of players to the Kolpak system and they will also arrive in England without Dale Steyn who appears some way off a return following injury. The absent players weren’t necessarily first choice in the set up – and that was the problem as far as they were concerned – but the likes of Kyle Abbott and David Wiese are the types of bowlers that could perform well on these English surfaces.

Despite that, AB De Villiers’ side are third favourites for the trophy at a best of 5.00 with Bet365 (as of May 26) and the draw has been kind to them in group B. South Africa, along with India, should make it through to the next phase but how far can they go?

Form is mixed and while Hashim Amla scored two centuries at the IPL, De Villiers himself was subdued by his own high standards. David Miller also struggled with Kings XI Punjab while Chris Morris started strongly for Delhi before fading away later in the tournament.

Imran Tahir was a more consistent success and the leggie enjoys playing in England. After a number of successful stints with English counties, it could be Tahir’s spin, rather than the pace of Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada and Morris that takes South Africa deeper into the tournament.

Underdogs – Who Else to Watch

New Zealand

England and Australia are backed to progress from Group A while India and South Africa are favoured from Group B but can any side upset those expectations? If there is to be any form of upset, it could come from New Zealand who retain much of the side that reached the final of the ODI World Cup in 2015.

The Kiwis are ranked at odds of 10.00 with Bet365 (as of May 26) to win the trophy and they retain a good balance of power hitting from the likes of Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson while their bowlers possess seam, and hopefully a little bit of swing with the white ball that will see them do well in England’s early summer.

The draw could have been kinder for the side and New Zealand will have to get past England and Australia to make it out of their group. Had they swapped places with South Africa in Group B then you would have to have fancied them to make it into the knockouts but if they can qualify, they will have a strong chance.

The line up this year is completed by Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and of those three, you could maybe argue a case for Pakistan, priced at 15.00 with Betway and Betfair in the outright markets. They have some powerful hitters in their squad and some good bowlers for the conditions but this is a transitional period for the side in all three formats and they are not expected to progress beyond the groups.

Team India Analysis

Obviously there are a number of players here, including Dhoni, Yuvraj and Ashwin who could be classed as genuine all rounders these days but for simplicity, we’ve listed them under their main specialities.

It’s a fearsome squad, and in their own country they would surely be favourites to claim back to back titles but what is the key to success in the UK?

Since 2013 when India last won the ICC Champions Trophy, 50 Over International Cricket has advanced all around the world. New records have been broken in those four years and we’re not surprised these days to see any side pass 400.

Even England, who were so pedestrian in their approach to the game when they exited the World Cup in 2015, have been transformed under new coach Trevor Bayliss so it’s vital that this Indian side gets off to a fast start.

Shikhar Dhawan must therefore be positive from the very first ball so Indian fans would have been delighted with his performances in the IPL where he finished as the second highest run scorer. It’s been a difficult season in international cricket for the left hander but if he can rediscover his Champions Trophy form of 2011, India will have a better chance.

Form at the IPL was missing for the next three batters: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane all had difficult tournaments and will need to recover from that in order to build those 350+ totals that India will need.

If India can compile those big totals batting first, they will have the talent in their bowling squad to defend comfortably. Traditionally, the wickets in England won’t provide assistance to the spinners and the groundsmen aren’t going to prepare surfaces that will suit Ashwin and Jadeja, particularly when the hosts aren’t blessed with huge spinning talent themselves.

The one ground in this tournament that could have provided assistance is Cardiff. The one pitch where England traditionally play two spinners, India will not feature here unless they are runners up in Group B and head to Sophia Gardens for the first of the semi finals.

India’s seamers will be happy enough however and Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the man to watch here after taking the Purple Cap at the IPL with 26 wickets across 14 games. Bhuvi came here with India’s triumphant side in 2013, taking a creditable seven wickets in the tournament.

Ishant Sharma was the key seamer in that line up but has been overlooked following some mixed form in the last 12 months. Support for Bhuvneshwar Kumar will therefore have to come from Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. As we saw in the IPL final, Bumrah’s death bowling will also be key if there is a tight finish in the final overs.

While we may be talking up the seamers to the detriment of India’s spinners, it was Ashwin and Jadeja who really did the damage as the side claimed their second ICC Champions Trophy four years ago. In the same conditions and on the same surfaces, the spin twins will be threatening again and if nothing else, they will certainly keep things tight in the middle overs.

India should therefore have the capacity to defend totals of 350 plus but what if they decide, or are asked to bowl first? Scoreboard pressure is a strange phenomenon and if they are faced with chasing a total approaching 400, it will be tough.

Fast starts are the key once again but in this scenario, it can’t just be left to the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli at the top of the order. This is where players such as MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Kedar Jadhav will really need to step up and provide batting depth and some explosive hitting in the later overs.

Dhoni did it for Pune at the IPL and while Yuvraj looked dangerous at times for the Sunrisers, there was that usual inconsistency that comes with his game. India can certainly upset a market that has the defending champions, a team that won it here in England four years ago, as fourth favourites to claim the trophy in 2017 but quite simply, the whole squad needs to be at their best.

ICC Champions Trophy Tournament Structure

The best eight ODI teams from around the world have qualified for this year’s tournament. West Indies are notable absentees but the eight that are here are split into two groups of four. The sides will play each other once and the top two teams from each group will then progress into the semi finals.

At this stage, the winners of Group A will play the Runners Up in Group B while the winners of Group B will take on the second placed side in Group A. Naturally, the winners of those two games will face off in the final.

Three grounds are being used for the 2017 tournament with The Oval in London, Edgbaston in Birmingham and Sophia Gardens in Cardiff picked to host the matches. Those three locations also played host to 2013’s tournament so the players involved at that time should be fairly familiar with the grounds and the surfaces.

2017 gets underway with England against Bangladesh in Group A at the Oval on Thursday June 1. Rather than being based in one location, the countries will travel around the UK and England themselves will use all three grounds during the group phase.

Over in Group B, India take on Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 4 before moving down to the Oval on June 8 to face Sri Lanka. Virat Kohli’s men then stay in London to complete their Group Phase with a match against South Africa on June 11.

The first semi final will subsequently be held at Sophia Gardens on June 14 with the second game scheduled for Edgbaston the very next day. All of this builds up to the final, which will be held at The Oval on Sunday June 18.

2017 marks the eighth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy after the first tournament was held in Bangladesh in 1988. It has taken place on a fairly unstructured basis since that time but from 2009 onwards, the competition has come along every four years and that’s likely to be the case for the foreseeable future.

South Africa won that inaugural tournament in 1998, beating West Indies by four wickets in the final but to date this has been their only success. In eight previous competitions, India and Australia hold the joint record with two wins each while South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka all have one victory.

Included in that list is a joint win for India and Sri Lanka in 2002 when rain ruined any chance of a result in the scheduled final.

The future of this competition seems settled for now even though there has been a lot of criticism over its very existence. Some parties believe that we do not need another global ODI tournament outside of the World Cup but it’s here to stay for another four years at least with the Champions Trophy heading to India in 2021.

As for 2017, host nation England are the favourites with Australia and South Africa close behind so, defending champions India will have to return to their form of four years ago if they are to retain the trophy.