If the tour of Bangladesh was the starter for England’s winter the main course begins later this week when they begin a five match series in India, notoriously one of the toughest series an English side can embark on.
England won their last series in India which might actually go against them in this one as people will be expecting a little more than they normally would. India are pushing for the number one spot in the Test rankings so they shouldn’t be expected to ease up.
Schedule
1st Test: 9-13 Nov at Rajkot
2nd Test: 17-21 Nov at Visakhapatnam
3rd Test: 26-30 Nov at Mohali
4th Test: 8-12 Dec at Mumbai
5th Test: 16-20 Dec at Chennai
India
India go into this series off the back of a comfortable 3-0 series win over New Zealand recently. They weren’t completely convincing in that series but it doesn’t matter as they were never in too much difficulty but if they come on for the run then they are going to be notoriously tough to beat.
The Indians have won their last four Test series so they are really building some momentum in this format of the game which might surprise some people given that they historically tend to focus more on the limited overs stuff than the longer format. That series loss to England in 2012 was India’s only loss in some 20 home series dating back to 2004.
England
That is the size of the task which faces this England side but this one is nothing like as good as the one which toured then. That side had two reliable spinners and a batting line up which could take any attack apart on any given day. If their batsmen deliver they still have that but the line up is much flimsier than the one in 2012 was.
England head into the series off the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw in Bangladesh last month and the biggest problem with that series was how ordinary their spinners were made to look. If their spinners go around the park in this series it is going to be a very long six weeks for Alastair Cook and his men.
Head to Head
There have been 31 past series between these two nations and England have the historical edge with 18 series wins to just the nine of India. There has also been four draws between the two. In India the record is a lot more level. Both sides have won five series with three draws.
Looking at individual matches England very much have the edge overall with 43 wins to 21 with 48 draws but in India the home side have a 15-13 winning record with 27 matches finishing in a stalemate.
Odds
India go into the series as emphatic 1/6 favourites to win it and they are only 4/1 to win it 5-0 too. 4-0 to India is the same price with 4-1 a 6/1 shot. England are as big as 12/1 to win successive series in India and the draw is a 10/1 chance.
Virat Kohli heads the way in the top Indian batsman market at a shade under 2/1 with Cheteshwar Pujara next at 7/2. Murali Vijay is 9/2 and Ajinkya Rahane is 11/2. In the respective England market Joe Root is the 9/4 favourite with Alastair Cook at 11/4. It is 7/1 bar the duo with Ben Duckett at that price.
Ravi Ashwin is long odds on to be the top India bowler. Barring injury he looks a certainty to land the goods but at 4/9 we won’t be getting rich backing it. Ravindra Jadeja is 4/1. Moeen Ali is the 11/4 favourite in the England market with Adil Rashid at 15/4.
Betting
I fully expect India to win the series and I think this will be a really long series for England. I’ve no doubt the English players will give their all but when you’re not good enough in certain conditions you have nowhere to hide and that is England’s issue here.
Not only do England go into alien conditions but they’re up against a top notch side in them too and I only expect one way traffic. There’s no value is a 1/6 series punt but the correct score market has potential. Firstly will there be a draw? There has only been two draws in the last 19 matches in India so that seems unlikely which leads me to five result scores. With that in mind given India’s expected dominance 5-0 and 4-1 India look the way to go.
Another market I like the look of is the top England bowler one where I feel there could be some mileage in taking the spinners on. We saw in Bangladesh that the spinners are average at best and against some of the leading players of spin in the world they could struggle.
Reverse swing is sure to play a big part in this series which leads me to the seamers for England with Ben Stokes arguably their best exponent of it in the absence of Jimmy Anderson. At 6/1 he looks good value to follow up a strong tour of Bangladesh by leading the wickets for the tourists in this series.
Tips
Back India to win 5-0 for a 2/10 stake at 5.00 with Skybet
Back India to win 4-1 for a 2/10 stake at 6.50 with Skybet
Back them here:
Back B.Stokes Top England Series Bowler for a 2/10 stake at 7.00 with Ladbrokes
Back him here:
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