Betting Blog
New Zealand not fancied for McCullum winning farewell
New Zealand have home advantage and it's Brendon McCullum's 100th Test but the odds favour an Australian side with a weakened bowling attack
ESPNcricinfo staff
11-Feb-2016
New Zealand are at home, with the benefit of local knowledge. Australia are out of their comfort zone, and with a weakened bowling attack.
There is also the considerable sub plot of Brendon McCullum's final series and his 100th Test. It is even better than that - in Wellington, he is set to become the first player to play 100 Tests in a row.
When the first Test begins in Wellington on Friday, all of New Zealand will be baying for the most fitting possible farewell for an inspirational cricketer - a first series victory over Australia since 1986.
Full postBroad has 9/4 appeal for Centurion
After his heroics in Johannesburg, Stuart Broad is an attractive 9/4 shot with bet365.com to be the top England bowler in the fourth Test in Centurion
ESPNcricinfo staff
17-Jan-2016
Stuart Broad is an attractive 9/4 shot with bet365.com to be the top England bowler in the fourth Test in Centurion.
Broad became the No.1 ranked Test bowler in the world after his superlative 6 for 17 in South Africa's second innings gave England a three-day win at The Wanderers.
And with James Anderson looking out of sorts throughout the series, and Steven Finn, likely to miss the Test with a side strain their odds of 3/1 at time of writing have little appeal.
Full postAB still regarded as A+ even with the gloves
South Africa's flop on their spin-dominated tour of India has barely dented confidence that they will be more than a match for England on their own pitches
ESPNcricinfo staff
12-Dec-2015
South Africa's flop on their spin-dominated Test tour of India has barely dented the confidence of cricket's leading bookmaker that they will be more than a match for England on their own pitches.
South Africa are 4/7 with bet365.com to win the three-Test series, with England 3/1 and a draw a tempting 9/2 - an indication that a drawn Test is regarded as unlikely.
AB de Villiers' decision to keep wicket to help balance his side has not dislodged him from the favourite's position to be South Africa's leading runmaker. He is 11/4 with bet365.com.
Full postBell's England axe could boost Warwickshire
The omission of Ian Bell from England's tour of South Africa might conceivably have brought his Test career to an end, which makes Warwickshire's 6/1 chance as Championship winners an intriguing bet
ESPNcricinfo staff
19-Nov-2015
The omission of Ian Bell from England's tour of South Africa might conceivably have brought his Test career to an end, either because England look elsewhere long-term or because he decides to announce his international retirement.
But Bell is not expected to retire from all cricket. He has always expressed the wish to give something back to Warwickshire by continuing his county career and has ambitions to captain them if the opportunity presents itself.
The possibility of Bell playing all season for Warwickshire would add to a formidable batting line-up as Jonathan Trott gets back in the rhythm of county cricket and the up-and-coming Sam Hain seeks to attract England's attention.
Full postHales 11/1 to take Man of the Match award
Alex Hales is quoted at 11/1 by bet365.com to be England'a man of the match in the first ODI in Abu Dhabi
08-Nov-2015
Alex Hales is desperate to make a favourable impression in the first ODI in Abu Dhabi as England try to put behind them the disappointment of a 2-0 defeat against Pakistan in the Test series.
It would not only cement his place in England's OD! team but also put him in pole position for an opener's role in the South Africa Test series. He would have to improve a modest ODI recvord in which he has made only two fifties in 20 ODIs.
Bet365.com are quite optimistic than he can make an immediate impression. Hales is third favourite, at 11/1, to be named man of the match. Hales' England team-mate Joe Root and Yasir Shah, the Pakistan legspinner who made such an impact in the Test series are 10/1 JF.
Full postRoot favoured to conquer new challenge
Joe Root is fancied by bet365.com to be England's leading run scorer in the first innings of the first Test in Abu Dhabi
12-Oct-2015
Joe Root's reputation as England's leading batsman in any conditions has led him to be installed as 11/4 favourite to be England's leading rungetter in the first innings of the Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.
Root was England's leading runscorer in the Ashes, his 460 runs against Australia this summer putting him 130 runs ahead of his nearest England challenger, Alastair Cook.
But he is something of an unknown quantity in the Middle East as he has never played an international innings in the UAE.
Punters waiting to see if James Taylor gets a game might be tempted to grab 5/1, in view of his excellent reputation against spin bowling, when they check the team announcements on Tuesday morning.
Full postSussex 2/1 to secure Division One status with victory
Sussex have the toughest challenge among the three relegation-threatened sides in the LV= Championship to pull off the victory needed to ensure their First Division status, according to bet365.com.
21-Sep-2015
Sussex have the toughest challenge among the three relegation-threatened sides in the LV= Championship to pull off the victory needed to ensure their First Division status, according to bet365.com.
Sussex are offered at 2/1 to pull off a victory at Headingley against a Yorkshire side who have already won the Championship. Somerset, 10/11 to beat Warwickshire on their own ground at Taunton, and Hampshire, viewed as a 6/4 chance against NottinghamshIre at Trent Bridge, both are seen as having better victory chances.
Sussex will be relieved, however, that they might not actually need victypry to keep them safe. A nine-point draw would be enough - and potentially less than that if Hampshire and Somerset do not achieve maximum points.
Full postEngland 11/8 for historic Oval victory
England have never won more than three matches in an Ashes series at home and will surely not get a better chance to make history than at The Oval for the fifth Test of this Ashes series. They are 11/8 to win the match and take the series 4-1.
09-Aug-2015
England have never won more than three matches in an Ashes series at home and will surely not get a better chance to make history than at The Oval for the fifth Test of this Ashes series. They are 11/8 to win the match and take the series 4-1.
Two years ago England also arrived at The Oval with an unassailable lead and were denied by bad light in their bid for a record fourth Test win at home. Their domination over Australia in this series is far greater and England are clear favourites to end the series in style.
Australia are mentally scarred having been blown away by England with the ball at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston and it will take a mighty effort for the tourists, with a captain about to retire, to pick themselves up so get behind England at 11/8 to win the fifth Test.
Full postAussies to take Ashes 3-2 16/1
We are set for an exciting Ashes series with both teams stating their aim to play positive aggressive cricket. It could produce a humdinger of a series and Australia are a tasty 16-1 to take the rubber 3-2.
ESPNcricinfo staff
06-Jul-2015
We are set for an exciting Ashes series with both teams stating their aim to play positive aggressive cricket. It could produce a humdinger of a series and Australia are a tasty 16-1 to take the rubber 3-2.
Australia are clearly the favourites to retain the Ashes but question marks still remain over their batting and, now with Ryan Harris retired, the longevity of the bowling attack. But they are more experienced and garner more confidence than England.
Yet the hosts, a young bunch who showed what they can produce in that remarkable turnaround win against New Zealand at Lord's, remain a threat and are capable of winning a Test or two. Whether they have enough to win the series remains a doubt so side with Australia but back result-cricket throughout the series and Australia to win 3-2 at 16-1.
Full postNZ 13-2 for ODI series sweep
New Zealand only managed a share of the spoils from the Test series with England but they are in prime position to dominate the ODIs and are 13-2 to sweep the series 5-0 over a weak England side who are attempting to find their feet again in one-day crick
08-Jun-2015
New Zealand only managed a share of the spoils from the Test series with England but they are in prime position to dominate the ODIs and are 13-2 to sweep the series 5-0 over a weak England side who are attempting to find their feet again in one-day cricket.
The two side's World Cup campaigns could not have been more polar opposite and New Zealand wowed the world with their aggressive style of cricket that thrilled crowds throughout the tournament. They are a settled side, happy in their roles and capable of big performances throughout the sides.
By stark contrast England have no idea what they are doing and a new coaching set up has much work to do. A raft of new faces in their squad suggests they might be able to play with a bit more freedom but seeing them complete with the quality of New Zealand seems unlikely so get on board at 13-2 for the tourists to win all five matches.
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