Can Pietersen cope with the pressure?

Kevin Pietersen's call-up to the England squad for the first Test was a brave call on the selectors' part but the Hampshire man must expect to be targeted by the Australians in the first Test at Lord's. Brett Lee seems to be the one chosen to get him, while Shane Warne will be itching to have a bowl at his county team-mate.

As you might expect, bet365 have come up with a couple of special markets involving Pietersen and surprisingly make him just 9/2 (5.50) to score a century at Lord's. There's no questioning his talent and ball-striking ability but that price seems awfully skinny given that he'll be making his Test debut, under the utmost pressure. The 8/13 (1.61) to score a half-century is much more like it, but even that is tight given the nerves he'll surely feel when stepping out to the wicket, particularly if England are four down for not too many.

Pietersen is just 9/2 (5.50) to be top England runscorer in the first innings, a market headed at 7/2 (4.50) by skipper Michael Vaughan, who had such a great series in Australia last time out. Vaughan's century against Bangladesh earlier this summer was his first in almost a year though and he'll need to play well if England are to compete. His average of 45 is impressive however.

Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss, who've both shown good form this summer, are next at 4/1 (5.00) while Ian Bell, another man short of Test experience, and Andrew Flintoff, who perhaps will be looking to prove a point, are both 11/2 (6.50). Geraint Jones is 14/1 (15.00) but though he's a decent batsmen it would be a major surprise if the top scorer is not one of the top six.

For Australia, the usual suspects head the list, with skipper Ponting, who averages just under 42 against England but more than 56 overall, a 7/2 (4.50) chance. Openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden, the latter perhaps the only one not in top form, are 4/1 (5.00) while Damien Martyn, heavily fancied to be top scorer in the series, is 9/2 (5.50). Michael Clarke is 13/2 (7.50); you can get 7/1 (8.00) on Simon Katich and 8/1 (9.00) on the brilliant Adam Gilchrist, who can turn a game in just a couple of hours.

You'd have to fancy Langer to outscore Hayden in the first innings at 5/6 (1.83) while it's a slight surprise, given the arguments outlined above, to see Pietersen a 4/5 (1.80) favourite to outscore Flintoff, who's 9/10 (1.90).

Given their favouritism for the match and the series, Australians top the betting for the Man of the Match award. Ponting and Glenn McGrath, the latter having taken eight wickets there four years ago, are 8/1 (9.00) chances while Shane Warne is 9/1 (10.00). Vaughan, Strauss, Brett Lee, Langer and Flintoff are all 11/1 (12.00), while Steve Harmison, Trescothick, Hayden, Martyn and Gilchrist are all 12/1 (13.00). This is however a notoriously difficult market to succeed in from a punter's point of view.

Related stories:
Correct score markets offer good value
Who will be McGrath's 500th Test wicket?