Australia set for early exit?

The cricketing world has been turned on its head in the last two days following one astonishing result and another which would raise a few eyebrows. Australia's hapless effort against Zimbabwe was the real shocker while the ease with which Bangladesh despatched West Indies suggested the side from the sub-continent could soon be a real force. Whatever reason for those results - Australia could make excuses about being underprepared and West Indies were just too disorganised - the fact punters must switch on to is that the gulf in talent has been overestimated making the gulf in price too great. Sides should be much closer in the betting in a format where the supremacy can change from one ball to the next. And that makes England the value selection for their blockbuster against Australia in Cape Town on Friday. Australia absolutely must win otherwise they will be catching a plane home. But do you really want to be backing a team at 1/2 generally who were so awful against Zimbabwe? The Aussies did not have a clue how to approach batting against Zimbabwe's seamers on a wicket which helped the bowlers. And in the field their fielding - particularly their returns - were terrible. England are generally available at 6/4 and a best priced 28/17 the layers would be well-advised to chop that price given the patriotic punters are likely to get involved with so much at stake. Paul Collingwood's men showed at Newlands on Thursday against Zimbabwe that the surface suits their army of 'dobbers'. So the question is: if Australia looked average on the surface against Zimbabwe, what could England do to them? Kevin Pietersen is 10/1 to score a century for England according to Ladbrokes. KP earned the man of the match award against Zimbabwe thanks to a 37 ball 79 from the Hampshire hitter. Ladbrokeshave now slashed England from 7/1 to 4/1 to lift the trophy. The firm also go 8/11 England and evens Australia to top Group B. Verdict: 2pts England @ 28/17 (PinnacleSports) (Editor's Note: There is nothing England would want more than to send the old enemy packing but can you really write off Australia? Follow all the Twenty20 prices on PinnacleSports!)