The main event of the English summer is almost upon us as England and India prepare to do battle in a five match Test series over the next six weeks. You get the feeling this series is set up very nicely indeed and we are set for five wonderful battles.
India began their tour of England by winning the T20 series but England equalised in the ODIs so there is all to play for in this series. Unlike the white ball stuff, England will be expected to win this series but the weather looks to have kept India in the game. It is set to be fascinating.
Schedule
1st Test: 1-5 Aug at Birmingham
2nd Test: 9-13 Aug at Lord’s
3rd Test: 18-22 Aug at Nottingham
4th Test: 30 Aug – 3 Sept at Southampton
5th Test: 7-11 Sept at The Oval
England
Traditionally this is England’s strongest format of the game but in truth they haven’t looked all that strong in red ball cricket for pushing on for two years now. They look tender with the bat and when conditions are not to their liking with the ball there is not a huge amount they have to offer there either so England really need to stand up and be counted here.
It is with the bat that England will win this series if they do win it but they will need to bat a whole lot better than they have done in 2018 so far where they have been beaten by Australia and then had to win second Tests to secure draws in two match series with New Zealand and Pakistan. If England can bat well, in home conditions they will fancy their chances with the ball.
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India
This is the real test for India. They have risen to the top of the Test rankings through plenty of hard work and commitment to the format but largely their better results have been in home or Asian conditions. If they can go to England and come out on top in a high profile, lengthy series like this one, then their position as the current dominant force is justified. If they are well beaten then the usual accusation thrown at them of just being a good home side will remain.
If India are going to win this series then you would think their bowlers will have to be on top form but they will be confident that they can make an impact with the ball with the weather seemingly having played into their hands. If they can take 20 wickets then you look at their batting line up and there is no reason why they can’t be competitive at the very least.
Head to Head
These two nations have met in 32 previous series with England having had the edge on them through the years. Thy have 18 series wins to their name to the 10 of India. There have also been four draws in that time too. In England the home side are even more dominant. They have won 13 of the 17 series in England with India coming out on top three times and there being one draw.
Such has been the English dominance in their own conditions they have only lost six Tests out of the 57 the two sides have played in England. The home side have won 30 times with 21 draws so history at least will very much side with Joe Root’s men heading into the series.
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Series Betting
I understand why England are favourites in this series but the discrepancy between the odds of the two sides is far too great to my eye. They are effectively saying India have little chance of winning the series and while history might claim that is the case the reality of the here and now is that is nothing like the case.
I think if you weigh up the two batting line ups India have a huge advantage there as long as they can perform together in English conditions and no longer are India that inferior in the bowling department, especially with it being pretty well known that England will rotate their bowlers throughout the series. I’m not convinced much of this series will be played in traditional English swing conditions so the wickets may well dictate the results and they could suit India more than England. I think the 2/1 on the tourists winning the series is impossible to ignore.
Player Betting
I’m going with three player bets in the series. In the top England series batsman market there could be value to be had in Jos Buttler. Buttler was easily England’s best batsman against Pakistan earlier in the summer and has been in decent form in the limited overs stuff too. Some of the top order for England look a little fragile which won’t help their cause. Buttler will have seen enough of this Indian attack in his years in the Indian Premier League which will be an advantage and at 14/1 he looks hugely overpriced to me.
There has been a lot of controversy about the return to Test cricket of Adil Rashid but having invested so much in the decision it is unlikely that the leg spinner will not play a prominent role in the series. With the two main bowlers being rotated throughout the piece and the heatwave set to return to dry out the wickets I think Rashid will leave his mark on the series. Rashid has four or more wickets in a third of the innings he has bowled in previously in Test cricket and if he can pick up three of four of those hauls in this series that should be enough to land the top bowler honours.
Another player who I think is overpriced is Lokesh Rahul in the top India batsman market. It has to be said that he is no guaranteed starter in the series but the form he has shown on the tour so far coupled with the indifferent stuff others have produced I would be surprised if he doesn’t take to the field at Edgbaston. Rahul averages more than 40 in Test cricket with three of his four centuries coming on the road. If he finds a spot in this line up in the first Test he could soon look overpriced especially with all eyes on Virat Kohli to see if he can finally do it in England.
Tips
Back India to win Test series for a 3/10 stake at 3.00 with Unibet
Back them here:
WON – Back J.Buttler Top England Series Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 15.00 with Ladbrokes
Back him here:
Back A.Rashid Top England Series Bowler for a 2/10 stake at 5.00 with Boylesports
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Back L.Rahul Top India Series Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 with Coral
Back him here:
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