Tait absence fails to affect Oz price

Australia suffered an apparent blow to their hopes of winning the inaugural World Twenty20 championship, which takes place in South Africa next month, when Shaun Tait pulled out injured.

Yet their price did not shift from the 7/4 available with Sportingbet. And why should it? Tait - who has an elbow problem - may have been one of the top bowlers in the World Cup but in his absence the explosive Ben Hilfenhaus gets a chance.

Hilfenhaus took 60 wickets - an outstanding return - in Australia's domestic competition, the Pura Cup, last season and has spent time being coached by Troy Cooley, the man responsible for nurturing England's 2005 Ashes-winning bowlers.

"I spent most of last year at the Centre of Excellence with him and went up for a couple of weeks just recently and spent some time working on some technical things," Hilfenhaus said. "He's been getting me to make little changes in the action for variety - he's fantastic on that perspective."

With Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson ahead of him in the pecking order, Hilfenhaus may not get much opportunity. But it is reassuring for punters that the favourites have plenty in reserve.

Meanwhile, second-favourites South Africa (5/1 Sportingbet) are suffering in the wake of their decision to omit Jacques Kallis. Keeper Mark Boucher has spoken up for his team-mate while Kallis has threated to quit cricket altogether following the snub.

Whatever Kallis decides, South Africa are likely to go into the tournament in a less-than-happy frame of mind and it could affect performances.

Pakistan (10/1), too are suffering from internal strife. Rumours are rife that the players threatened to boycott the event in protest at the treatment of Shoaib Akhtar, who was criticised for leaving training without informing the management.