Australian stars Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist head the betting to be top scorers in the cricket World Cup while the odds to be top bowler are wide open.

Bookmakers Williams Hill rate Hayden 10/1 to score the most runs in the February 9-March 23 championship with Australian captain Ponting 11/1 and Gilchrist 14/1.

South Africans Herschel Gibbs, Jacques Kallis and Gary Kirsten are level with India's Sachin Tendulkar on 16/1. West Indies star Brian Lara, who has recently returned to action after a mystery illness, is a 20/1 shot along with India's Virender Sehwag.

Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, paceman Glenn McGrath and South African allrounder Shaun Pollock are joint favourites at 12/1 to take the most wickets.

Then come two more Aussies, Brett Lee (14/1) and Jason Gillespie (16/1). South African pacemen Allan Donald and Makhaya Ntini and Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and Indian seam bowler Javagal Srinath all are 20/1.

Defending champion Australia remains strong 11/8 favourite to hold on to the trophy with host South Africa rated a 9/4 shot.

Next are India (8/1), New Zealand (10/1), Pakistan (11/1), West Indies (14/1), England and Sri Lanka (both 16/1), Zimbabwe (66/1), Kenya (250/1), Bangladesh (500/1), Netherlands, Namibia and Canada all at 1,000/1.

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