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Can Australia Retain the Ashes in 2019?

Australia Ashes Cricket

Between the summers of 1989 and 2005, Australia won every single Ashes series. For eight Ashes in a row, England were barely in the hunt; a period of dominance in this most prestigious cricket fixture that had not been seen since the English supremacy of the 1880s.

Then, in the summer of 2005, that Australian dominance came to an end in one of the greatest Ashes series of all-time as Michael Vaughan’s England beat an Australian team packed with talent and experience to break the Antipodean stranglehold on the famous urn.

In the series since, honours have been even, with four English wins to three Australian, but there has been one consistent feature. For four series in a row now, Australia have been unable to win the Ashes on English soil. You have to go back to the beginning of the century and Steve Waugh’s ruthless Aussie squad to find the last time the tourists claimed the Ashes in England.

But could this year be different? The bookmakers suggest not. The television viewers who switch on Sky to see the opening of the First Test at Edgbaston on August 1, will be watching an England team that is heavily fancied by sports betting companies to regain the Ashes that they lost in 2017-18. Joe Root’s side are generally available at 4/5 to win the series, while an Australian win is quoted at 2/1 and a drawn series at 6/1. And if you want to bet on the Australians to retain the Ashes outright (for which a series draw would be sufficient) you can back them at 11/10.

To anyone who watched the last Ashes series, in which England were comprehensively outplayed on Australian soil and lost 4-0, those odds might seem strange. But since the aura of invincibility has disappeared from Australian cricket, their visits to England have tended to go badly. The 2009 vintage, led by Ricky Ponting lost a scrappy series, while 2013 and 2015 saw an Australian squad in transition undone by an England team that was peaking under Andy Flower’s coaching.

This time, though, things could be different. The traumatic ball-tampering scandal involving David Warner and captain Steve Smith, has had one benefit, in enabling Australian selectors to audition a number of batsmen who might have had to wait longer for their opportunity. In Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Kurtis Paterson, Australia have three exciting new middle-order batting talents, to supplement the returning Smith, while Joe Burns and Marcus Harris could be strong foils for Warner.

This looks like being the strongest batting line-up to embark on an Ashes tour in at least the last decade, and it will be complemented by a bowling attack featuring three of the world’s most effective fast bowlers in Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, as well as arguably the international game’s best and most experienced spinner, Nathan Lyon. Up against an England team that has a number of gaps in the batting order, and no obvious replacements for their veteran bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad, this could well be the year when Aussie punters looking for the best bets on the Bigbetbookmakers.com site can back their boys with confidence.

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BOBBY’S BEST WEEKEND BETTING EVENTS – 9TH-10TH MARCH

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Soccer – Premier League – Arsenal vs Manchester United

There’s only one place to start for this weekend’s Big Betting Events and it’s at the Emirates for a cracking top flight clash between two European hopefuls.

There are a number of angles which make this game a very intriguing propsect indeed. First of all, just a point separates the pair at the top of the Premier League with the Gunners trailing their opponents by the narrowest of margins. They’ve both won 59% of their matches this season, and Unai Emery’s side will be hoping to leap above the Red Devils with three points in this highly watchable clash.

Secondly, both sides are playing in Europe in midweek with United faced with the daunting prospect of turning around a two goal deficit at the Park Des Princes, whilst the Gunners are also in France to face Petr Cech’s former employers, Rennes.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have 24 hours extra rest ahead of this clash. Will that swing it in their favour?

The Norwegian has been exceptional since taking over, and his side picked up another three points last weekend when beating Southampton 3-2 at Old Trafford. He’s won ten of twelve Premier League games in charge, and the club are unbeaten since December 16th. It’s a tremendous record which has helped them ease back into the European spots and become genuine contenders for the top four.

They’ve been far more advanturous and entertaining under his tutelage, scoring three goals in three of their last four games and this match does have the propensity to be highly entertaining. There have been 17 goals in the last five meetings and viewers will be hoping for more of the same here.

The bookies have Arsenal as clear favourites for this game, but the Red Devils have won their last two visits to this ground, and Ole’s men are playing with real purpose at the moment. It could be closer than the pre-match odds suggest.

I can’t wait to sit down and watch this heavyweight clash and which side can take a step closer to European football next season.

UK viewers can enjoy this game on Sky Sports this weekend. It is one of three Premier League games taking place on Sunday afternoon. 

Soccer – League One – Wycombe vs Sunderland

You may be wondering why I’ve dipped down to League One for the second of my Big Betting Events this weekend. Well, I’ve been following the fortunes of Sunderland after watching the recent Netflix documentary and I’ve been charting their progress throughout the campaign.

The Black Cats are still in contention for automatic promotion, although with Luton looking unstoppable, there is realistically just a single place to play for. Jack Ross’ side may have to settle for a play-off place, and they will be keen to avoid dropping any more points in this fixture.

Sunderland were on a five-match winning run when they came up against Gareth Ainsworth’s unfashionable side back on November 17th, and were unable to break the Chairboys down. The Wearsiders looked destined for a defeat before a late equaliser spared their blushes. It was the archetypal coupon-buster, and I had many friends cursing the words “Sunderland” and “Wycombe” for the remainder of the weekend.

Wycombe haven’t changed their style or approach and they will be suitably competitive once more. Sunderland must find a way of breaking them down, as well as nulifying the potential threat of Adebayo Akinfenwa.

Sunderland have won three games in a row, and they sit just two points behind second place Barnsley. They desperately need to take all three points from this potentially trappy match.

Wycombe have lost four in a row coming into this game, but shouldn’t be written off. Last time, they were on such a poor run of form, they bounced back with a 3-2 victory over play-off chasing Doncaster Rovers, despite being 2-0 down with 15 minutes left on the clock.

It’s difficult to write off Wycombe, and that’s why this is such an intiguing clash.

EFL Fans can check out the highlights of this game on Quest TV’s Saturday night highlights show at 9pm. 

Boxing – Welterweight Title – Shawn Porter vs Yordenis Ugas

Carson’s Dignity Health Sports Park plays host to some Saturday night Boxing action with Shawn Porter taking on Yordenis Ugas in California this weekend and it’s the third of my Big Betting Events. 

Shawn Porter was responsible for one of my favourite bouts of 2018 when he captured the vacant WBC title by unanimous decision and I can’t wait to see him back in the ring this weekend.

He is 29-2-1 and has 17 KOs to his name and he is understandably an odds-on favourite to defeat his opponent this weekend. It feels like Porter has been around for decades as he’s quickly become a household name in the sport, but it was as recently as 2014 that he held the previous welterweight title.

Porter suggested that his opponent has quite a similar profile to himself and the pair have admitted that there is plenty of mutual respect for one another. However, that will go out of the window on Saturday night.

Ugas is beginning to make a name for himself and he can put himself firmly in the spotlight by overthrowing the favourite in this bout. He believes that this will allow him to further enhance his career and give him the platform to explore future opportunities.

A change of trainer and backroom staff has helped give him more focus and his determination to succeed is admirable, but this will be his toughest task yet.

Porter’s title reign ended at this venue, and his backers will be hoping that it doesn’t evoke bad memories of that sole-destroying defeat, which ended an eight-month tenure.

I love a Saturday night/Sunday morning bout, and I can’t wait to see Shawn Porter back in action in California. He is expected to beat the Cuban, but it won’t be straightforward and could potentially go all the way.

Shawn Porter vs Yordenis Ugas can be enjoyed on DAZN. Their coverage will take viewers through the entire card. 

Soccer – Ligue 1 – St.Etienne vs Lille

I’m heading to France for the last of my Big Betting Events for this weekend as two European hopefuls go head-to-head in the South of France.

I’ve been really impressed with Lille this season. After a topsy-turvy 2017-18 campaign which included various management changes, I’ve come to admire their consistency this time around. They are unbeaten in 2019, and although they sometimes struggle to break down fellow well-organised outfits, they are always worth a look in the betting markets.

PSG are the only side to have better form on the road this season, and the Parisians are one of just four sides to beat them on their travels so far. The goals of Nicolas Pepe have played a huge part in their success this season, and he’s heading towards 20 for the campaign.

St.Etienne have been predictably solid this campaign, and they’re always difficult to beat on their own patch. However, they’ve suffered recent defeats to PSG and arch-rivals Lyon in recent months, and were dumped out of the cup at the hands of Dijon. They have netted just four goals in six games (home and away) and don’t look at their imperious best at the moment. This could be a good time to play them.

This fixture tends to favour the home side, and Lille will be keen to banish memories of their 5-0 defeat here last season. They had lost 3-1 on their previous visit to this ground, although they’ve managed to gain partial revenge with successive 3-1 wins in front of their own fans.

This is one of the longest trips in Ligue 1, and many will be expecting the home dominance to continue here. However, it won’t be quite so easy for ASSE this time around.

UK viewers can enjoy this game live on BT Sport 3 on Sunday afternoon. 

See the LATEST ODDS now for the above FEATURED BETS at BOBBY’S WEEKEND BETS!

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Week 5 Betting Options for the Premier League Darts

John.Henderson darts.room

Aberdeen’s BHGE Arena plays host to week 5 of the Darts Premier League, as some of the field look to bounce back from a draining weekend at the UK Open. The self titled “FA Cup of Darts” got the beating of all of our ten Premier League players, with young prospect Nathan Aspinall lifting the trophy in Minehead, defeating an exhausted Rob Cross in the final.

Rob Cross, Michael Smith and Gerwyn Price all reached finals night, with a majority of the other players falling at early hurdles in the unpredictable event. All things considered, Thursday night will be back to reality for the PDC stars as they look to jump up the table as we approach the halfway stage in the first phase.

A week previous, we endured a fairly shocking week in week 4 of the Premier League. Reigning champion Michael van Gerwen suffered his first defeat at the hands of James Wade, Rob Cross hammered Daryl Gurney 7-1 and ‘Contender’ Luke Humphries took a point from Grand Slam of Darts champion Gerwyn Price. In less shocking news, Suljovic edged past Wright 7-4 and van Barneveld failed to win again, losing 7-4 to ‘Bully Boy’ Smith.

It’s a huge week for those at the bottom. Van Barneveld and Michael Smith will feel cut adrift if they don’t pick up two points in Scotland, with places two to four looking to leapfrog MVG.

Let’s see who takes on who:

Michael Smith vs. Rob Cross

Smith is still hobbling about after having surgery on his leg; Cross looked shattered after a testing weekend at Minehead: who will have the most left in the tank? Cross got the better of ‘Bully Boy’ in the semi-final of the UK Open on Sunday, but the shorter format will suit Smith. If Smith can score heavily, Cross’ missed doubles may prove crucial. It’s destined to go the distance, but picking a winner is a real 50/50. Smith comes at a better price.

Michael Smith to win @ 11/8 (BetVictor)

Daryl Gurney vs. James Wade

Gurney’s confidence would have taken a battering at the hands of ‘Voltage’ Cross last week, and Wade isn’t the rebound fixture you would choose to bounce back. Wade is a dark horse for a Premier League title this season and should be able to edge out the Northern Irishman. Wade has hit twice the amount of 180s that Gurney has in their four matches – back this run to continue.

James Wade to score the most 180s @ 7/4 (BetVictor)

Mensur Suljovic vs. Gerwyn Price

Suljovic has been going about his business quietly in the Premier League. One win, two draws and one loss see him nestle fifth in mid-table, however, his opponent is the only unbeaten player left in the Premier League. ‘Gezzy’ Price has relied on big finishes to keep him live in most matches, with heavy scoring he should be first to those doubles in a majority of legs. Price – despite unbeaten – has only won one fixture – he’ll make it two here.

Gerwyn Price to win @ 5/4 (BetVictor)

Raymond van Barneveld vs. Peter Wright

Barney is still without a win this season, and quite frankly, the Dutchman is running out of time. Wright is proving to be one of the most unpredictable players in the league but should have the nerve to topple van Barneveld. Wright is a good price to smash the most maximums in this one.

Peter Wright to score the most 180s @ 1/1 (BetVictor)

Michael van Gerwen vs. John Henderson

Highlander John Henderson is the fifth ‘Contender’ to take the stage in the Premier League this year and will hope to become the first grab two points away from the field. MVG may bite back after two shock defeats over last weekend; Henderson hasn’t got a favourable record against the Dutchman. ‘Hendo’ won their last meeting in 2017, but has lost the other eight – this could be a tonking.

Michael van Gerwen 7-2 John Henderson @ 10/3 (BetVictor)

Find the Latest Betting Odds for Professional Darts here atBigBetBookmakers.com featured at the BIGGEST BETS OF THE DAY& BIG LIVE BETS NOW Pages 

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Big Betting Sporting Events: County Championship Cricket

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County Cricket is a hugely popular summer sport in the UK and it has a rich history. In 2019, it will enter it’s 120th season, and it will once again be split into two divisions. The season typically begins at the start of April, to coincide with improved weather conditions, and matches are staged throughout the week.

It is organised by the English and Welsh Cricket Board and there are 18 clubs involved in total. The relegation/promotion format has been tweaked ahead of the 2019 season with three sides being relegated, with just one county being promoted to the top flight.

Matches are staged over four days, which was increased from three days in 1993. The final day of play is typically significantly shorter than the previous three, although this may be dependent on the weather and other unforseen circumstances.

The counties represented in the championship are (in no particular order): Durham, Surrey, Middlesex, Kent, Glamorgan, Leicestershire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Somerset, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Sussex, Nottinghamshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Essex and Derbyshire. Historically, Yorkshire are the most successful side in the competition with 32 titles, Surrey have 19 to their name with Middlesex being successful on 11 occasions. Sometimes, the title has been shared between two counties. As of 2019, there are just three counties who are yet to secure a title.

It works on a points based system, which has been tweaked over the year. Winning teams will be currently be awarded 16 points for a victory and five points for a tie. Bonus points are awarded for batting and bowling and these will be awarded to a team’s total regardless of the eventual outcome. A team, who nets 400+ in defeat will still be awarded five bonus points. This is a rare, but it helps rewards teams for their valiant effort, and for playing their part in an entertaining spectacle.

Teams have scored over 800 runs on seven different occasions with the latest being in 2007 with Derbyshire looking unstoppable against Somerset. In 2013, Essex famously scored just 20 runs against Lancashire, adding their name to the hall of fame for lowest batting total.

A wooden spoon will be awarded to the side who finish bottom of the championship. There are three teams who have so far avoided this dubious honour.

Where and When?

The game are played throughout the summer months in the UK. Each team will take it in turns to host the County Championship matches at their own ground. The season typically begins in April and ends in mid-late September.

Why is the County Championship so Popular?

The County Championship is hugely popular with cricket fans and part of its appeal is that spectators relish the opportunity to soak up the sunshine and spend all day taking in the action. It is available on TV in the UK, and many fans will sit down and follow the progress of their county, but it is the attendees who truly benefit from this summer spectacle.

The County Championship is always very competitive, and it also gives supporters the opportunity to spot future England Internationals.

What Betting Opportunities are Available?

County Championship Winner – This is the simplest of all the markets. It is a case of predicting which of the counties will be victorious this season. It is a season-long bet which requires your chosen side to finish top of Division 1/Division 2 (depending on your preference). The holders usually begin the following season as the favourites.

Top Batsman – This is both a season-long bet and a market which applies to individual matches. Punters must specify which batsman will score the highest number of runs throughout the entire campaign. Consistency is the key, and those batsman who play for the top sides are usually favoured in this market. On the match-by-match basis, bettors must select which player will score the highest number of runs across the four days.

Top Bowler – As above. Bettors will have the opportunity to pick the bowler who will take the highest number of wickets throughout the entire season. This also applies on a match-by-match basis.

Highest Opening Partnership – This tends to just apply to the first innings only, so it’s always best to read the small print. Punters must predict which pair of batsmen will score the highest total before the first wicket is taken. If the result is tied, the bet will be void.

Over/Under Runs – This is one of the more popular markets as it doesn’t require punters to select a winner of the match. Once again, it’s always best to read the small print before proceeding as this can sometimes apply to the first innings only, although more commonly, it will be attibuted to the entire match.

Next Dismissal Method – A market which can be relatively quick-fire and as a result, it has become increasingly popular with punters looking for a swift return on their wager. It simply requires bettors to predict whether the next dismissal will be LBW, Caught or ‘Other’.

Century in the Match – A 50/50 market which will ask punters to predict whether any batsman will reach 100 runs throughout the game. This is ideal when a prolific batsman is coming up against a struggling side, who have been struggling to claim wickets in recent weeks.

Man of the Match – Another market which is fairly simple, although it won’t be settled until the game has concluded. Punters will be asked to predict which player will be voted Man of the Match. This will usually be awarded for all-round performance, although it is more likely to go to the batsman in a high-scoring contest.

Individual Player Markets – On the week of a County Championship match, many individual player markets will be priced up by the bookmakers. These may include – ‘Player A to Score Over 50 Runs’ or ‘Player B to Take 3+ Wickets’. These can be very profitable if you can identify confident players.

Most Sixes – This market has been available for International cricket, and last season, many bookmakers also introduced it for the County Championship. It is simply a case of predicting which side will hit the highest number of sixes. There is also the option of a ‘tie’.

Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for the County Championship

Squad is Key – This is vital for a number of reasons. First of all, teams have the potential to completely revamp their squad during the winter months, so ensuring your up-to-date with the latest ins and outs is absolutely imperative. I always have a detailed look at the latest recruits in March to make sure I haven’t missed anything. Also, many players are also called up the England squad and although they represent their county, they are rarely available during busy summers of International Cricket. For example, James Anderson can make all the difference for Lancashire, but he is often called away. Always check the matchday squads ahead of placing any bets, as this can potentially change the outcome significantly.

The Unpredictable British Summer – The weather is not something which can be relied upon in the UK. Anyone who has spent their afternoon ducking under an unbrella at Old Trafford will know that the County Championship does not benefit from constant delays and interruptions. Play is likely to be more fragmented if the players continually leave the pitch throughout the four days. Always check the forecast before placing a wager. Games are unlikely to be free-flowing and high scoring if there are regular rain delays. Mistakes will also be commonplace on a sodden pitch or in blustery conditions.

Opening Partnerships Can Flourish in the County Championship – Like all cricket events and competitions, opening partnerships can set the tone for the remainder of the match. Always study the record of the opening partnerships before having a wager. The highest scoring opening partnership market is a great way of having a bet without being forced to wait a number of days for your money. With games coming thick and fast, an understanding can easily be struck up between batsman, and this can be take advantage of by punters who have spotted this connection.

Where Can I Watch the County Championship in the UK?

Sky Sports currently have the broadcasting rights for the County Championship until 2024. They will regularly broadcast live matches throughout the season, and Sky Sports News will have updates from around the grounds.

 

 

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Best Bets of the Day – Sunday March 3rd 2019

Liverpool v Everton

Fulham v Chelsea
Premier League – 2.05 pm
Sky Sports

It’s a local derby in the Premier League between these neighbours. Neighbours they may be, but there has been a massive gulf between them in terms of output this season. Chelsea are in the mix for a top-four finish, despite all the troubles that they have been having recently. As for Fulham, they are pretty much-staring relegation right in the face.

Chelsea had lost three of their four previous league games before stepping out at the Bridge on Wednesday against rivals Tottenham. But in a good show of unity, they managed to put their EFL Cup Final loss behind them, to put the run of poor league form behind them, to put the whole Kepa refusing to be substituted incident behind them to post a 2-0 win. That was the perfect tonic for the Blues and they have the chance to build further momentum now as they make the short trip to Craven Cottage on Sunday. Chelsea are 8/15 odds-on with top bookmakers.

Fulham suffered a loss against Southampton in midweek which tallied up to their fourth straight league defeat. It leaves them with seven defeats in their last eight league games. That loss against the Saints was enough for the board. They sacked manager Claudio Ranieri, putting Scott Parker in temporary charge. The only positive for Fulham is that a change of manager can often spark a side back into life. Plus all four of their league wins this season have been at home. They are 11/2 underdogs to pull off a big upset on the weekend though.

Newcastle v Worcester
Premiership Rugby – 3.00 pm
BT Sport

Two of the bottom three in the Gallagher Premiership will be battling it out at Kingston Park on Sunday. It is the Newcastle Falcons who are rooted to the foot of the table and even if they were to bust out a win in this one that position would not change for them. The positive for the Falcons is that they have home soil advantage. Also, because of some recent head to head positives against the Warriors, the Falcons are 1/2 favourites for the match.

Newcastle took a good away win at Worcester earlier this season, their third win in four against them in the top flight. Their last home defeat against the Warriors was back in March 2016. Each of Worcester’s last four wins in the top flight have been on home soil and they are on a five-match losing streak on their league travels. But if ever there is a chance to snap that slump then it surely has to be against the bottom side in the league.

Everton v Liverpool
Premier League – 4.15 pm
Sky Sports

Liverpool will try and maintain their Premier League title challenge in this Merseyside derby on Sunday evening. Even though they have enjoyed such a strong season and even though they have big head to head form over the Toffees,  they have to tread carefully. Liverpool will have to try and keep a lid on emotions and not get swept into a fractious, heated derby day match up at Goodison Park. Liverpool are in at an odds-on price to collect the victory but they have only drawn their last two league away games. Overall the Reds have drawn three of their last five league outings (W2).

So will that give Everton a chance at pulling off a massive upset on home soil? Doing so would potentially ruin Liverpool’s title challenge. The Toffees are big 5/1 underdogs for the match, and they have not won a single league game against any side currently in the top half of the table. But this is a special occasion, at home against their biggest, most bitter rivals. The incentive of knocking Liverpool off the top of the league will surely be shouted around the dressing room of the home side. We couldn’t have a best bets of the day preview without this and it has an intense feeling about it.

Napoli v Juventus
Serie A – 7.30 pm
Premier Sports

There are some huge games happening around Europe this weekend and this one of them. This is a showdown between the top two in the Italian top flight. Juventus are miles ahead at the top of the pile. Even if they were to lose in Naples, it wouldn’t really disrupt their title challenge at all. However, the wonder on this game is just about whether or not Juventus will avoid defeat at Napoli. That is because the Old Lady are unbeaten in the top flight this season and this is the game in which they are most likely to lose that record.

Juventus are 11/5 underdogs in the match outright with leading bookmakers. You are not going to see them as underdogs on many occasions. That is a huge credit to Napoli who are unbeaten at home this season, and who have not conceded a single goal in any of their last five games. The Naples side will carry a huge threat at 13/10 odds to be the first ones to topple Juve this season on the domestic league scene. They lost 3-1 in Turin against Juventus earlier this season so will have revenge on their mind. Napoli have won two of their last three on home soil against the Old Lady. One to watch out for here!

Remember to keep up with all of the latest action across the busy weekend of sport by following the best live bets

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Best Bets of the Day – Saturday, March 2nd 2019

Spurs Arsenal

Tottenham v Arsenal
Premier League – 12.30 pm
BT Sport

The North London derby is going to be taking centre stage on Saturday lunchtime. So let’s kick off the best bets of the day preview at Wembley. Arsenal turned on the attacking style when the two met earlier this season as they picked up a 4-2 home win over their rivals. Will the tables be turned in this one? Arsenal are 11/4 in the match outright with the leading bookmakers to topple the Lilywhites again.

Spurs have seen their title hopes crushed and stomped all over in the last week. A shock defeat out Burnley last weekend was followed up by a defeat at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in midweek. Strangely enough, those defeats coincided with the return from injury of their talisman Harry Kane. So now having ceded ground to the top two, Spurs just have to strive and push for a top-four finish. A defeat in this North London derby and that could be in jeopardy.

Spurs start in third place, just the four points ahead of the Gunners. So the points on offer in this one are huge. A home win for Tottenham at 21/20 odds, would see them sitting pretty comfortable up in third. But Arsenal have hit some form with five wins in their last six Premier League games and they have averaged almost two goals per away game this season. The Gunners are in a tight battle with Man Utd and Chelsea for fourth. They can’t take their foot off the gas either. It could all lead to a cracking North London derby, of high stakes for both.

Real Madrid v Barcelona
La Liga – 7.45 pm
Premier Sports

This could be a pivotal moment in the title race in La Liga. Barcelona are seven points clear at the top of the pile as it stands over Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid are trailing behind in third, nine points adrift of the Catalans. So really this would appear to be the last big chance that Real Madrid have at trying to haul their way back into the title race. A chance to keep some slim hopes of getting their hands on the title alive. However, they were crushed at home in midweek by Barcelona 3-0 in a Copa del Rey fixture.

Real Madrid couldn’t cope with the Catalans, and that result has seen Barcelona trimmed into 11/8 favourites at leading bookmakers to win this away game. That says a lot about them. They are on a thirteen match undefeated streak of form in the league to be fair. They are undefeated in their last nine out on the road. Barca have won their last two visits to the Bernabeu 3-0 as well. So there’s every reason to label them as favourites. However, Real Madrid will know the importance of this one. It’s a huge chance for them to shake off their troubles and to make a statement of intent that they aren’t going away. Los Merengues are 7/4 for the home win.

West Ham v Newcastle
Premier League – 5.30 pm
Sky Sports

The final Premier League action of the day sees West Ham playing host to Newcastle. The Hammers could certainly do with the lift of a win as they have only taken two of them in their last nine played in the top flight. Both of those were at home though, and the Hammers are undefeated in their last four home fixtures (W2 D2). So that suggests that they aren’t going to get knocked over easily.

The Irons are 23/20 in the outright market with top bookmakers. But they will be facing up to a Newcastle side who seem to have gotten their act together. The Magpies have won four of their last six (D1 L1) top-flight games and have eased what were some substantial relegation concerns. However, they haven’t won in five out of the road (D2 L3). Because of that, they may be happy enough just to avoid defeat to keep their revival going. It will be interesting to see how the Magpies approach this one.

Leicester v Wasps
Premiership Rugby – 3.00 pm
BT Sport

Leicester are still searching for some kind of winning momentum. The Tigers have only managed to produce the two victories in their last seven games in the Premiership. However, the two wins in what sequence both cropped up in their last two home games. So there has been a bit of renewed hope for them (at least in action at Welford Road). After their home wins over Harlequins and Gloucester, two of the current top four, can they hand out the same fate to Wasps?

Wasps are sitting five points better off in the league standings than the Tigers this season. However, they have struggled for away results. Wasps have just the two wins out on the road since November across all competitions. They are going into the game as the 6/5 underdogs against the 8/11 favouritism on the Tigers. However, Wasps are the ones with the head to head form against Leicester having lost just one of their last seven against them. That defeat was by just the one point too. The leading bookmakers are expecting a tight handicap line to come into play in this one.

Catalans Dragons v Warrington
Super League – 5.00 pm
Sky Sports

Super League title contenders Warrington Wolves make the short trip across the channel to take on French side Catalans Dragons on Saturday. The Wire had a three-match winning streak over the Dragons going until they met back in August last year. The Dragons took a 20-14 victory over Warrington in the final of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup, becoming the first non-British winners in the history of the tournament. But it is the travelling Wolves who are favourites to get themselves the win at 1/2 odds with leading bookmakers.

They have posted three wins from three so far this season, while the Dragons have taken just the one win from their opening three games. In the last six meetings, Warrington have outscored the Dragons 31-11 in tries. But will the Dragons be able to take forward some confidence from that win over the Wire six months ago? It will be interesting early season action from the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

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The Windies are Back!

West Indies cricket team

To any cricket fan who watched the international version of the game during the 1970s and 1980s, the West Indies will always be synonymous with deadly fast bowling, electric fielding and brutal, stylish batting.

Before the Australians enjoyed their period of dominance, it was the West Indies who ruled the cricket roost, and their success was all the more remarkable given their limited resources.

For a start, the West Indies is not a nation, but a collection of nations that come together for the sport of cricket. None of the islands that make up the West Indies Cricket Board are wealthy, and the pool of talent from which the West Indies selectors have to pick is far smaller than any other major cricket nation. And yet, for two decades and more, the West Indies cricket team, led by Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Richie Richardson and finally, Brian Lara, was the best in the world.

Their reputation has declined steadily since the mid 1990s, as the region’s lack of financial resources, administrative incompetence and waning interest in the sport led to the squandering of that great legacy, and it made international cricket poorer. But the good news is that the West Indies are back.

Under the captaincy of Jason Holder, the men in maroon caps have beaten England in a Test series, and at the time of writing are matching the tourists in the fifty over format. This is doubly significant as it shows that the West Indies resurgence, previously confined to Twenty20 cricket, is happening across all formats, and it also raises the possibility of the West Indies being serious contenders in this summer’s World Cup, which is due to be held in England.

Holder’s team are seventh favourites for the tournament, and can be backed at odds as big as 20/1 with some bookmakers, which might underestimate their chances. Although cricket fans watching the World Cup on Sky this summer might be anticipating the home team playing well, and a strong challenge from India, South Africa and Australia, the West Indies could surprise a few people.

Their chances could be boosted significantly if Chris Gayle decides that he wants to be part of the World Cup. The veteran may be past his peak, but he remains one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket, and he would be supported by a number of young, talented batsmen such as Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmeyer and Holder himself. The West Indies bowling line-up is also full of pace and variety, with all-rounder Holder and Carlos Brathwaite giving them flexibility and a host of strong fast bowlers being supported by the wily spin of Devendra Bishoo.

A West Indies victory this summer would also be fitting, given that it was on English soil that they dominated the early editions of this tournament, winning the World Cup in 1975 and 1979 with a glorious combination of swashbuckling batting and exhilarating fast bowling. So many cricket fans, even those who aren’t from the West Indies, or who haven’t had a bet on the West Indies with one of the bookmakers on the BigBetBookmakers site, will be hoping that 2019 could be the year when West Indies cricket returns to centre stage.

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