IF you look hard enough, and do your homework, there is plenty of value - and fun - to be had on the Cricket World Cup betting market.

There is going to be near saturation coverage of the tournament on television, so it is well worth getting involved just to add a bit of extra interest to the games.

The favourites to win the tournament outright are Australia (2/1), with South Africa at 4/1 and England priced at 8/1. My personal dark horses are Sri Lanka, and they are well worth a small punt at 7/1.

However, there is much more fun to be had in other markets and one bet that jumps out is the 3/1 on offer for any of the non-Test playing nations to qualify from the group stages.

Ireland could surprise a few people, and they are in a group containing the great unpredictables, Pakistan and the West Indies. Kenya reached the semi-finals of the last tournament, and they will be ready to pounce if England or New Zealand slip up.

Ricky Ponting is clear favourite to be the highest run-scorer at 7/1, with other big names like Kevin Pietersen, Jacques Kallis and Chris Gayle a more tempting 16/1.

Looking at some of the outsiders in this market, Mike Hussey - who averages an astonishing 67 in ODI's - is a more than reasonable 25-1 and Paul Collingwood is 66-1, despite two match-winning centuries in England's recent victories over Australia. Mahela Jayawardene (50/1), Mahendra Dhoni (66/1), Justin Kemp (100/1) also look well-priced.

Shane Bond, Muttiah Muralitharan and Makaya Ntini are favourites to be top wicket taker at 10/1, while Lasith Malinga looks good value at 16/1, especially considering his ability to skittle the tail.

For those wanting to back their own, Bolton's Sajid Mahmood is priced at 80/1. Mahmood is also an unflattering 7/2 to bowl the most wides for England during their campaign.

There are also several intriguing bets which may be worth a punt, including England skipper Michael Vaughan, who has never scored a ODI century in 77 attempts, is 4/1 to break his duck in the Caribbean; and for the romantics out there, Brian Lara is 25-1 to score a ton in the final for the hosts.

l All odds are courtesy of BetFred. For more information visit betfred.com