logo
Australia are odds-on favourites to claim consecutive World Test Championship titles this week - while South Africa are 5/2 outsiders to cause the upset at Lord's

Australia are odds-on favourites to claim consecutive World Test Championship titles this week - while South Africa are 5/2 outsiders to cause the upset at Lord's

Daily Mail​18 hours ago

The Australia cricket team can create history in London this week - as they look to become the first nation to win multiple World Test Championship titles.
Patrick Cummins and Co claimed their maiden WTC crown in 2023 - defeating India by 209 runs at The Oval.
The Aussies will be up against South Africa this time around - as the famed Lord's plays host to a blockbuster final starting Wednesday.
For those who will be following closely - Australia are the best-backed at 1/2 to be victorious and secure successive World Test Championships.
Meanwhile, South Africa are 5/2 outsiders to upset the applecart and win just their second major trophy and first since 1998.
In addition to the head-to-head odds - Sky Bet are offering three Price Boosts that are generating interest in the betting lines.
The first boost - which has been enhanced to 11/4 - requires Australia to win the match, hit the most sixes and the most fours.
Meanwhile, the other two boosts need Steve Smith to score 100+ runs and take a catch in the first innings at 8/1, and Cummins to take the most wickets for Australia and Kabiso Rabada to take the most wickets in the first innings for South Africa at 12/1 (ties are losers).
Smith scored a century and took two catches in the first innings of Australia's aforementioned 2023 WTC final victory over India.
Additionally, in the same final - Cummins took the most wickets for Australia in the first innings with three.
Lastly, Rabada has a strong record against Australia in his career to date - with the fast bowler taking 49 wickets at an average of 23.08.
Sky Bet odds for the World Test Championship final (Australia vs South Africa):
Australia 1/2
South Africa 5/2
Draw 8/1
Sky Bet Price Boosts for the World Test Championship final:
Australia to win the match, hit the most sixes and the most fours
WAS 9/4 NOW 11/4
Steve Smith to score 100+ runs and take a catch in the first innings
WAS 7/1 NOW 8/1
Patrick Cummins to take the most wickets for Australia and Kabiso Rabada to take the most wickets in the first innings for South Africa
WAS 10/1 NOW 12/1

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

EXCLUSIVE Surfing icon Mick Fanning opens up about his chances of coming out of retirement - and the everyday task he loves since quitting the tour
EXCLUSIVE Surfing icon Mick Fanning opens up about his chances of coming out of retirement - and the everyday task he loves since quitting the tour

Daily Mail​

time32 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

EXCLUSIVE Surfing icon Mick Fanning opens up about his chances of coming out of retirement - and the everyday task he loves since quitting the tour

Aussie surfing legend Mick Fanning has lived a life few could imagine - but it turns out simple pleasures such as the after-school run are now top of his to-do list. Speaking ahead of his annual Charity Golf Day at the Coolangatta and Tweed Heads Golf Club on June 13, the three-time world champion is loving life away from the gruelling professional tour - and the 43-year-old has no plans to emulate fellow icon Kelly Slater. Remarkably, Slater is still competing at 53. 'I definitely don't have itchy feet,' Fanning, who stepped aside from WSL events in 2018, told Daily Mail Australia. 'When I was on the tour, I threw everything into my performance. 'I've competed as a wildcard in a few events, but I'm definitely happy to be retired, I've got plenty of life projects to focus on.' One of those projects is the Mick Fanning Charity Golf Day, which sees plenty of Aussie A-list stars take part. The likes of Dylan Alcott, Sally Pearson, Ellyse Perry, Pat Rafter and Karl Stefanovic are expected on the greens this Friday, with the focus securing much-needed funds for those in need. 'Since 2022, we have raised almost $2million, which is something I am very proud of,' the Gold Coaster said. 'I'm not much of a golfer myself, I just like having a hit with my mates. 'Knowing it is for such a good cause, that motivates me.' Fanning will also 'celebrate' the 10-year anniversary of his infamous shark attack this July, where he became a global sensation. Competing at J-Bay in South Africa on July 19 in 2015, Fanning fought off a great white when competing in the final against his great mate Julian Wilson - and lived to tell the tale. The vision was seen by millions - and Fanning knows it is the first question on many people's lips when they meet him. 'I've dealt with it, I've moved on,' he said. 'It was a big incident at the time, I get it is a talking point. It was a crazy moment.' In 2016, Fanning - along with fellow surfers Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr and Bede Durbidge - founded Balter Brewing. The windfall has been staggering, with Carlton United Breweries (CUB) eventually buying out the brand three years later. It is rumoured the return was around $200million - not bad for a bunch of laidback surfers. Born in Penrith, the die-hard Panthers fan has watched on with pride as Ivan Cleary's men have created a dynasty in the NRL after winning four successive premierships dating back to 2021. Much like his own career in the ocean, Fanning linked their sustained success to incredible athleticism, seizing big moments and calling on an expert coaching staff. And when it comes to the future of professional surfing, 'White Lightning' is excited. 'The world has evolved so much since I was on tour... look at sports science and how professional everyone is,' he said. Now a father of two, Fanning loves the daily drop off - and after school activities on the Gold Coast 'Adding surfing to the Olympics has also been great... sponsors are now getting behind athletes as they compete on the ultimate stage. 'I can only see the sport going to another level.' A father of two, Fanning loves the daily drop-off - and after school activities, one of which naturally for his son Xander, is surfing. He also has a daughter, Lyla Skye.

Part one complete as Popovic's Australia lock up World Cup berth
Part one complete as Popovic's Australia lock up World Cup berth

Reuters

timean hour ago

  • Reuters

Part one complete as Popovic's Australia lock up World Cup berth

June 11 (Reuters) - Tony Popovic was already thinking about the improvements Australia needed to make for next year's World Cup finals soon after they sealed automatic qualification with a gritty 2-1 win in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Popovic took over as coach last September after the Socceroos made a poor start to the third round of Asian qualifying and has overseen five wins and three draws to book a ticket to North America. "Very, very satisfying right now, I'm sure it'll sink in as the days go by," he said shortly after the final whistle at Jeddah's King Abdullah Sports City. "It's been a very intense period since I've joined and I've loved it so far. We've done the first part, qualifying automatically, and now the next part is to be bigger and better for the World Cup." After beating Group C winners Japan 1-0 with a late goal in Perth last week, the Socceroos only needed to avoid a 5-0 loss to the Saudis to take their place in the finals for a sixth straight edition. They got the job done despite going a goal down in front of a hostile crowd, watching a Saudi player have a red card rescinded by VAR, and conceding a late penalty. Goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who was winning his 100th cap, saved the penalty to ensure that goals from Connor Metcalfe and Mitch Duke either side of halftime would give Australia all three points. "To do it here in this atmosphere, you've got to deal with the weather as well, and it's not easy to show that character resilience and then quality, to come back and actually take the lead and win the game," said Popovic. "For Matty Ryan, his career speaks for itself and there's a lot more for him to achieve ... but it's a day he'll never forget." Former centre half Popovic was a member of the Australia squad that reached the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in 2006, a feat matched by Graham Arnold's team in Qatar three years ago. The 2006 squad had flair as well as the famed Australian resilience, and the task for Popovic over the next year is to build a team that can play a bit as well as fight. "We've built a good foundation now, and we want to really get better, get better kick on and try and do something special the World Cup," he said. "We need to play games to keep improving, giving other players that deserve it an opportunity and then we want to be a squad that's much better than what we are now. I think that's the expectation we should have."

Fans slam the AFL for naming the first women to the league's Hall of Fame - but NOT because of their gender
Fans slam the AFL for naming the first women to the league's Hall of Fame - but NOT because of their gender

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Fans slam the AFL for naming the first women to the league's Hall of Fame - but NOT because of their gender

Footy fans have lashed out at the AFL after Erin Phillips and Daisy Pearce became the first women to be named to the league's Hall of Fame - but their complaints are all about the timing of the honour, not the stars' gender. Phillips - who won three AFLW premierships and three All-Australian nods in her time with the Crows and Power - provided the highlight of Tuesday night's ceremony with an emotional acceptance speech. Pearce - who now works for Channel Seven in addition to coaching West Coast's women's side - won an AFLW premiership and became a three-time All Australian with the Melbourne Demons. Fans voiced their shock at their induction as Pearce only retired from playing in 2022, with Phillips doing the same in 2023. The AFL's guidelines on the Hall of Fame state that 'players are only eligible after they have been retired from the game for at least five years'. However, an exception was made for AFLW players in June last year that makes them eligible after just one year in retirement. Footy supporters couldn't deny Daisy Pearce (pictured) is a giant of the women's game - but had issues with the fact she was inducted after only retiring as a player in 2022 Some fans went online to slam the AFL when Phillips and Pearce's inductions were made official. 'I would never deny her impact on the women's game, but hasn't she been retired for 5 minutes? It took Gary Ablet Sr 8 years to be inducted, Erin less than 2 years? Over 1000 goals vs 50. 250 games vs 50 odd?' one wrote. 'Congrats to her on her induction. But didn't she only retire last year & isn't the criteria 5 years retired?' another added, referring to Phillips. 'Well I expect Dusty to be in next year and made a legend the year after if this is how quick it's going to be inducted,' wrote a third, referring to Richmond great Dustin Martin, who retired last season. 'Someone correct me if I'm wrong but… aint the whole AFLW too early for hall of famers?' another commenter said. '66 games makes you a first ballot HOF'er? Have a look at the players from the 80s and 90s who have played 300+ games, multiple premierships and other accolades, and they will probably never get a guernsey,' one fan said, referring to Phillips. 'Let the league develop more... it started in 2017 and there's already people getting into a HOF? Relax and bit and pull the hand brake up,' another wrote. Some reactions to Pearce's honour questioned why she was being inducted given she is still employed in the game as Eagles coach, with comments like, 'Genuine question, is an active head coach allowed to be inducted?' Other fans questioned whether Pearce and Phillips met the criteria for making the Hall of Fame - which they both did courtesy of a change to the rules in June last year Phillips (pictured at Tuesday night's Hall of Fame ceremony) is the most honoured player in women's footy history However, Simon Goodwin was inducted as a player in 2017, when he was coaching the Melbourne Demons, and Sam Mitchell was inducted in 2023 when he had already started coaching Hawthorn. Phillips' father Greg is a Port Adelaide legend and her words to him during her speech were a high point of the ceremony. 'To Dad, I can't imagine how hard it would have been to tell your 13-year-old daughter that she couldn't play the game she loves anymore,' she said, her voice breaking. 'And 27 years later, she's standing next to you in the Hall of Fame.' In her speech, Phillips also thanked the 'incredible women' who made the AFLW possible and singled out trailblazer Debbie Lee. 'You kicked down this door so others could walk through,' she said. 'I'm so proud to be by your side and I can't wait to kick down more doors with you Deb.' Pearce's last AFLW game was the Melbourne 2022 grand final victory and she called it the best day of her life, even though her twin children Sylvie and Roy were in the room, hamming it up for the TV cameras. 'It's controversial to say this, as a mother ... don't get me wrong, they're the best thing that's ever happened to me, but on a technicality, the day itself is not that good,' she said. 'Give me grand final day every day of the week.' Phillips was Adelaide's inaugural captain and the first women's best and fairest winner, playing in three Crows flags despite needing a knee reconstruction. She then switched to Port Adelaide when they joined the league in 2022. When the women's league started in 2017, marquee players such as Pearce and Phillips were crucial for its profile and credibility.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store