The much-maligned Champions Trophy is back for what could be its final edition and we are set for some fascinating ODI cricket over the next fortnight.
The eight highest-ranked ODI sides in the world will do battle in this tournament and the overall betting market indicates that there is very little between all eight sides; with plenty of nations capable of going all the way.
There is plenty of betting interest in every game during this tournament and our complete 2017 Champions Trophy tips can be found below.
The home-ground advantage means that England are favourites to win the Champions Trophy for the first time and they will go into this clash with Bangladesh as the punter’s elect.
Bangladesh head into this tournament off the back of a Tri-Nation Series win over New Zealand Ireland and the fact that they have recent experience playing in these conditions is an advantage.
England’s epic collapse against South Africa in the third game of the series overshadowed the fact that they won their two previous games in impressive fashion, while they comfortably beat Ireland.
There is no doubt that England deserve to start this game as favourites, but we have seen England falter before on the big stage and there isn’t as much between these two teams as the current market suggests.
Back Bangladesh To Win @ $5
Australia will start this clash with New Zealand as clear favourites, but their ODI form in 2017 leaves plenty to be desired.
Australia lost the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy to New Zealand and really did play some uninspiring cricket in the process.
New Zealand’s bowlers have shown that they can trouble Australia on swinging pitches like what will be in play at Edgbaston and the Kiwis showed they still have plenty of batting firepower when they chased down 356 runs against Sri Lanka in a warm-up game.
I will be fairly keen to take on Australia throughout the Champions Trophy and New Zealand are excellent value to start the tournament with an upset win.
Back New Zealand To Win @ $2.63
South Africa will go into this clash as clear favourites and it is easy to see why.
Sri Lanka simply don’t have the fast-bowling attack to thrive in these conditions and they have conceded big scores in both of their practice games to date.
South Africa struggled somewhat with the bat in their most recent ODI series with England, but they are sure to be better for the match practice and still have plenty of firepower in the side.
It is tough to see South Africa penetrating with the new ball and that is where the value is in this betting market.
South Africa Fall Of Wicket 1 Over 34.5 Runs @ $1.83
There is no love lost between these two sides and this will be the first time that they have met in the ODI arena since 2015.
India were excellent against both New Zealand and Bangladesh in their warm-up fixtures and the only real question mark over their chances in this tournament is their ability to handle the swinging ball.
Pakistan scored an impressive win over Bangladesh in their warm-up fixture and they continue to be a side that is capable of producing a stunning result one day, but an uninspired effort the next.
This is one game that the betting market does look to have just about right and I am happy to stay out from a betting standpoint.
No Bet
Wet weather has made for a disrupted start to the 2017 Champions Trophy and there is an argument to be made that it saved Australia in their opening game of the tournament against Bangladesh.
Australia showed vulnerabilities with both the bat and the ball, but they will still go into this clash with Bangladesh as clear favourites.
Bangladesh were far from disgraced in their opening game of the tournament against England and they showed that their batting line-up can match it with any of the best sides in the world.
The Tigers have improved substantially over the past 18 months, but they are still badly underrated by the market.
Australia’s recent ODI record really isn’t anything to write home about and Bangladesh are worth a gamble at their current price of $5.50.
Back Bangladesh To Win @ $5.50
England’s batting was nothing short of outstanding in the opening game of the tournament and Alex Hales, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan were all impressive.
They will be however be tested by a New Zealand fast-bowling line-up that did give Australia some problems in their opening game of the tournament.
The presence of Kane Williamson in the New Zealand side means that they are always capable of scoring big and the Black Caps do play the swinging ball strongly.
There is no doubt that England deserve to go into this clash as favourites, but New Zealand remain the dark horses in this tournament and there is not as much between these two sides as the current betting market suggests.
Back New Zealand To Win @ $3
South Africa were impressive in their tournament opener against Sri Lanka and they have an excellent opportunity to continue their winning start to the tournament.
South Africa’s bowling line-up is missing some big names, but Chris Morris and Imran Tahir were both able to step-up in impressive fashion.
The Proteas were typically controlled with the bat and the fact that Hashim Amla has started the tournament with runs is a big concern for every other side in this event.
Pakistan’s bowling was very poor against India and that put a great deal of pressure on their batting line-up, which has been notoriously flakey in recent years.
It really is tough to see Pakistan improving enough to trouble South Africa, but there really is no edge in the current quote of $1.40 available for a Proteas win.
That means we have to look a bit deeper for any value in this clash and we have found just that with the South Africa opening partnership.
Back South Africa Fall Of Wicket 1 Over 35.5 Runs @ $1.83
Sri Lanka’s start to the tournament does not get any easier as they must beat India to keep their hopes alive.
Sri Lanka were poor with the bat against South Africa, but it is fair to say that the Indian bowling line-up should not trouble them as much as South Africa did.
The Sri Lankans did bowl reasonably well, but a lack of depth with the ball really is an issue.
A firing Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ensured that India were always in control of their clash with Pakistan and India’s recent form in this form of the game has been nothing short of outstanding.
It really is tough to see them losing this game, but there is no real value at their current price and I am happy to stay out of this game from a betting standpoint.
No Bet
This is a must-win for both these sides if they are any chance of progressing to the knockout stages of the tournament.
New Zealand were unlucky to have their opening game of the tournament against Australian abandoned when they were in the box-seat, but they were no match for England in their second game of the tournament.
A reliance on Kane Williamson does continue to be an issue for New Zealand and if he fails their batting can become fairly brittle.
Bangladesh were not disgraced in their opening game of the tournament against England and their second game of the tournament against Australia was abandoned.
The Tigers were exposed somewhat by Australia in their second game of the tournament, but their batting still have plenty of quality and they scored over 300 runs in their opening game of the tournament.
Bangladesh did beat New Zealand in a warm-up game before this tournament and they are excellent value to beat their rivals once again on Friday night.
Back Bangladesh To Win @ $3.25
This is basically a sudden-death match as the winner will join India in the knockout stages of the Champions Trophy.
It is Pakistan that are set to start this clash as favourites following their surprise win over South Africa, but it really is tough to separate these two sides.
Sri Lanka were just as impressive against India and Pakistan really have been a side that have struggled for consistency in recent years.
The Sri Lankan batting line-up has a great deal of depth and I remain unconvinced that Pakistan has the bowling strength to penetrate their top order.
Sri Lanka are great value at a quote of $2.10 to secure a place in the semi-finals.
There is no doubt that England have been the standout side at the Champions Trophy to date and it is no surprise that they go into this clash as clear favourites.
England confirmed just how dangerous their batting can be with a slashing 240 off 40 overs against Australia and it is tough to see the Pakistan bowling line-up giving them any real trouble.
Pakistan have done well to make it to this stage of the tournament, but they have done so without their batting really firing.
It would not surprise to see England pick-up a couple of wickets early and this is a Pakistan outfit that is still prone to collapses.
England should be able to progress to the Champions Trophy Final comfortably and we have also found a betting play that represent some genuine value.
Back England Fall Of Wicket 1 Over 30.5 Runs
It is fair to say that Bangladesh have been a touch lucky to qualify for this stage of the Champions Trophy, but they are still only one game away from their first major international final.
Bangladesh’s batting has been particularly impressive during the tournament to date and they are going to need to score plenty of runs again to have any chance of upsetting India.
India were very poor in their second game of the tournament against Sri Lanka, but their bowling attack returned to their best against South Africa – although they were helped by some extremely poor batting.
There is no doubt that India deserve to go into this clash as favourites, but the question is whether they should be as short as their current price.
India absolutely destroyed Bangladesh in a Champions Trophy warm-up game, but Bangladesh have won two of the past three ODI games played between the two sides.
Bangladesh have shown that they are capable of competing with the best teams in the world and they are genuine value to record an upset win.
Back Bangladesh To Win @ $4.50