Double delight on the cards

World Cup, Ashes top a nation’s wish list

SPORTS AND SHOWBIZ BETTING: WHAT will 2010 bring . . . a World Cup triumph for England’s footballers, perhaps, or maybe a successful Ashes campaign against the Australians?

Off Course will be here on Wednesday nights to give you the latest odds, but this week looked a good opportunity to take a long-range peek at next year’s biggest sporting contests.

Let’s start with our football team who, under astute disciplinarian Fabio Capello, have been transformed from under-achievers to genuine World Cup contenders.

Any side which boasts the likes of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and John Terry have to be taken seriously, but it is some of the lesser-heralded players who may hold the key to our chances in South Africa next summer.

The likes of Aaron Lennon, Gareth Barry and Joe Cole will be crucial if England are to do well, but the most obvious position we need to fill is the goalkeeping berth, which is currently being contended by Robert Green, Ben Foster and David James.

None of these inspire confidence so it is to be hoped that Capello will have another look at Joe Hart and Paul Robinson.

If you fancy England to go all the way - and there are many who believe this is our time - then take the 11-2 on offer.

Brazil are the same price, behind favourites Spain (9-2), the current European champions.
Argentina, who look flimsy under barmy boss Maradona, can be backed at 10-1, while reigning champions Italy are 12-1 along with Germany. Holland are 14s and France 16s.



ENGLAND’S cricketers are improving under the guidance of the two Andys - Strauss and Flower - so it is surprising that they are a generous price to win the Ashes series against Australia Down Under.

The home side look vulnerable to me as they lack obvious matchwinners since the retirement of Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist.

OK, Ricky Ponting remains a great player and Mike Hussey is still a batsman to fear, but will a batting line-up which contains Shane Watson, Simon Katich and Marcus North be capable of taking our bowlers to the cleaners? I suspect not.

Factor in a bowling attack comprising the inconsistent (but admittedly-dangerous) Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and spinner Nathan Hauritz and I reckon this will be an even contest.

That makes the Aussies’ price of 4-7 laughable. England at 9-2 or the draw at 5-1 looks the way to go at this stage.


MOTOR racing is not really my thing, but I have to admit the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship promises to be a crackerjack affair.

The return of seven-times champion Michael Schumacher has spiced up a season which already held great fascination, and if you fancy the German to triumph, then run along to the bookies or back him on line at the 5-1 available.

Lewis Hamilton is the 11-4 favourite to regain the title he won two years ago, while current champion and fellow Englishman Jenson Button is 15-2.


OLDHAM’S rugby league players deserve some luck, but the bookies don’t expect them to cut much ice in the 2010 Northern Rail Cup which starts at the end of January.

The Roughyeds are 66-1 to lift the trophy, Widnes Vikings being the bookies’ favourites at 4-1.




SNOOKER’S World Championship in Sheffield has a wide-open look to it, although favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan will probably justify favouritism at 7-2 if he produces his ‘A’ game.

Reigning champion John Higgins is a very fair price at 7-1, while Sean Murphy and Mark Selby are 10-1, recently-crowned UK champion Ding Junhui is 12-1, and Stephen Maguire and Neil Robertson are 14s.

It promises to be a fascinating tournament . . . but so, too, do the other sporting showdowns mentioned above.

Enjoy your sport in 2010. This column returns after a short break on Wednesday, January 20.