Aussies to continue dominance?

Australia are 7/4 favourites to land the Inaugural ICC World Twenty20, according to bookmakers Ladbrokes after the nes that captain Ricky Ponting will join up with the side.

The Antipodeans are 4/9 to top group A, which also contains England and Zimbabwe, and three of their batsman head the betting to finish top tournament runscorer.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Adam Gilchrist, opener Matthew Hayden and captain Ricky Ponting are all 12/1 to take the honours. All three plundered runs at the recent one-day World Cup in West Indies with Hayden finishing that tournament as the top runscorer. He may well repeat the does here as he is rumoured to be close to announcing his retirement from international cricket and will want to go out on a high.

England are 8/1 to lift the trophy and 13/8 to top their group. Coach Peter Moores has made Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen the focus of his team with the rest of the team a mix of international and domestic Twenty20 specialists. Although South Africa is not a traditional strong bed of spin, expect Jeremy Snape and Chris Schofield both to have a say with the ball.

Pietersen is 5/2 favourite to be top England runscorer and 25/1 to hit more runs than anyone else in the tournament and despite a run of recent poor form he was back to his best when guiding England home to a series win against India at Lord's.

Ladbrokes have also priced up which master blaster will hit the most sixes in the competition. They make Gilchrist the 9/4 jolly, with Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya 4/1 and Chris Gayle and Graeme Smith both 6/1. Luke Wright who looked at home in the last teo international one-dayers against India is 10/1.

Spokesman Robin Hutchison said: "The Aussies have the best Test and ODI teams so there's nothing to suggest they won't have the best Twenty20 team too. But despite the odd international here and there the lack of statistics means bookies and punters alike are heading into uncharted waters."

(Editor's Note: Can Australia dominate all forms of cricket. Ponting's return makes them stronger but can anyone stop them. Follow the latest prices on Ladbrokes!)